Since our unit opened 3 years ago, we have been using Sureseal. Upon returning from transient dialysis, one of our patients recommended Gelfoam, which itself is very expensive. I was wondering if the pad on the Sureseal isn't actually Gelfoam (perhaps accounting for its high price)?

Yes, Sureseal pad is made of sterile cellulose, the same as gelfoam. It expands on contact with blood, creating a pressure dressing and promoting clotting at the needle site. You can tell your patient that it is an ultrathin form of the same substance as Gelfoam which, by the way, is probably not any cheaper than Gelfoam except that you don't waste any and don't have to worry about contamination as it does not need cutting.

Hi Lynn and Moishe!

I am a Healthcare research analyst for Frost & Sullivan and I am interested in gathering information on the use of topical hemostats to control excess bleeding at the access site, the type of products used, under which other circumstances might these products be used, if the current methods are adequate, what would be needed to improve these methods(if at all), what is the percent of incidence of this type of complication (serious bleeding), etc.

I would greatly appreciate your help in this subject.

Should you decide to participate, the discussion will be in the form of a telephone interview and will last about 20 minutes.

We are also in a position to offer you an honorarium of $50.00 for your time. This would be in the form of an AMEX gift card (for safety reasons) mailed to your home address in the next 6 weeks.

Please respond at your earliest convenience by indicating time, date and a telephone number where you can be reached. I will write back to you to confirm the appointment.

As it stands at the moment, I will be scheduling for the coming 2 weeks (Jan 23-Feb 6th).

If you have any question, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at: Norma.Vela-Roch@Frost.com or call at 210-247-3891.

Please let me know