In the context of transport and cryoprotectant perfusion, the absence of hemostasis has resulted in increased cost, increased risk to personnel, and at best constitutes a major annoyance. This burden has been an acceptable one in the framework of the techniques formerly used to effect human cryopreservation. But it is far from adequate. An effort was thus made to secure hemostasis by the application of a variety of agents to the wounds during the surgical procedure. These agents had in common several of the same limitations and disadvantages, chief amongst them was the need to apply them during the early part of transport when whole blood was still present in the circulatory system.
Thrombin acts by activating the clotting cascade, even in the presence of heparin.
Unfortunately, median sternotomy and craniotomy are typically performed following blood washout. We have used commercially available cyanoacrylate to achieve hemostasis over large wound surfaces in the dog while perfusing low viscosity agents with high spreading coefficients. To our surprise we have found that the material bonds very well to wet tissue surfaces and rapidly creates a dry wound. Small wounds such as jugular cut-downs can be closed with cyanoacrylate alone without an adverse effect on healing. While the objective in human cryopreservation is most assuredly the recovery and survival of the subject, the constraints are more relaxed.