Surgicel NU-KNIT Vs Bone Wax on Median Sternotomy (NBCS)

Comparing of Surgicel NU-KNIT and Bone Wax and Their Impacts on Median Sternotomy Wound Infection and Bleeding. Randomized Clinical Trial

Bone wax is traditionally used as part of surgical procedures to prevent bleeding from exposed spongy bone. It is an effective hemostatic device which creates a physical barrier. Unfortunately, it interferes with subsequent bone healing and increases the risk of infection in experimental studies, with its subsequent an infrequent but devastating complication, deep sternal wound infections and mediastinitis are associated with increased mortality, repeated surgical procedures, prolonged hospital stay, and increased (1-3) costs. We aim at finding whether Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) concomitant with electrocauterization provided additional clinical benefit in the cardiac surgery patient who had sternotomy incision.

Primary objective: The impact of BW with electrocauterization, and Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) concomitant with electrocauterization on the rate of sternotomy wound infection after a month of the surgery.

Secondary objective: The impact of using Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) concomitant on the post-operative drainage and blood products need.

Study Methodology

A prospective, randomized controlled study to be conducted from the time of ethical approval for 12 months. Patients that will undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) using cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP) with single internal mammary artery harvest will be selected and randomized into 2 groups according to chronological order. The first group will receive BW (Bone-wax?, Aesculap Inc., USA) concomitant with electrocauterization, and we will use oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) (Surgicel NU-KNIT? Absorbable Hemostat, Ethicon Inc., USA) concomitant with electrocauterization the second group received.

One week prior to the surgery all anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications should be stopped. All coagulation tests will be done preoperatively and postoperatively including platelet counts, international normalized ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time.

We will follow the patient for one month post-operatively by our specialized wound nurse care for detection any wound infection and we will use CDC definition for surgical site infection for that purpose.

As a secondary outcome, blood drainage amounts will be recorded at the postoperative 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th hours. The number of units of blood and its products used will be also studied.

Demographic data will be collected through electronic data base system in our corporate after approval from the institutional review board.

Surgical technique Surgical intervention will be done through a median sternotomy with CBP, moderate hypothermia, and cold blood cardioplegia in all CABG patients.

In group I, spreading of BW on the sternal surfaces by digital pressure immediately after sternotomy and before closing the chest. In group II ORC will be cut and laid along the sternotomy over the intramedullary area immediately after sternotomy and it will be removed before closing the chest.

Routine prophylactic antibiotics will be used according to our protocol, during the skin incision. The activated coagulation time levels were measured and adjusted between 100 and 150 s postoperatively.

Clopidogrel plus Salicylic acid in case CABG surgery and Warfarin 3 mg (as starting dose) plus Enoxaparin sodium 1 mg/kg SC twice daily in case of valve surgery, will be started on the postoperative second day if no expectation for further bleeding and adequate hemostasis has been achieved.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cardiac Surgery, Bone Wax, NU-KNIT, Median Sternotomy, Deep Sternal Wound Infection, Surgical Site Infection
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Closure of sternotomy

Detailed Description

We aim at finding whether Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) concomitant with electrocauterization provided additional clinical benefit in the cardiac surgery patient who had sternotomy incision.

Primary objective: The impact of BW with electrocauterization, and Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) concomitant with electrocauterization on the rate of sternotomy wound infection after a month of the surgery.

Secondary objective: The impact of using Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) concomitant on the post-operative drainage and blood products need.

Study Methodology

A prospective, randomized controlled study to be conducted from the time of ethical approval for 12 months. Patients that will undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) using cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP) with single internal mammary artery harvest will be selected and randomized into 2 groups according to chronological order. The first group will receive BW (Bone-wax?, Aesculap Inc., USA) concomitant with electrocauterization, and we will use oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) (Surgicel NU-KNIT? Absorbable Hemostat, Ethicon Inc., USA) concomitant with electrocauterization the second group received.

One week prior to the surgery all anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications should be stopped. All coagulation tests will be done preoperatively and postoperatively including platelet counts, international normalized ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time.

We will follow the patient for one month post-operatively by our specialized wound nurse care for detection any wound infection and we will use CDC definition for surgical site infection for that purpose.

As a secondary outcome, blood drainage amounts will be recorded at the postoperative 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th hours. The number of units of blood and its products used will be also studied.

Demographic data will be collected through electronic data base system in our corporate after approval from the institutional review board.

Surgical technique Surgical intervention will be done through a median sternotomy with CBP, moderate hypothermia, and cold blood cardioplegia in all CABG patients.

In group I, spreading of BW on the sternal surfaces by digital pressure immediately after sternotomy and before closing the chest. In group II ORC will be cut and laid along the sternotomy over the intramedullary area immediately after sternotomy and it will be removed before closing the chest.

Routine prophylactic antibiotics will be used according to our protocol, during the skin incision. The activated coagulation time levels were measured and adjusted between 100 and 150 s postoperatively.

Clopidogrel plus Salicylic acid in case CABG surgery and Warfarin 3 mg (as starting dose) plus Enoxaparin sodium 1 mg/kg SC twice daily in case of valve surgery, will be started on the postoperative second day if no expectation for further bleeding and adequate hemostasis has been achieved.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Qatar
  • Doha, Qatar
    • Heart Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All Patients that will undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) using cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP) with single internal mammary artery harvest will be selected and randomized into 2 groups.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Emergency procedures, patients with blood coagulopathies and patients who underwent re-exploration for hemorrhage after 24 hours of surgery (as sternal re-exploration increase the risk of sternal infection per se and hence this might affect the study's secondary outcome of assessing the rate of wound infection), CABG with bilateral internal mammary artery harvest, and valves surgery.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Bonewax; Spreading of BW on the sternal surfaces by digital pressure immediately after sternotomy and before closing the chest.	Procedure: Closure of sternotomy; In group I, spreading of BW on the sternal surfaces by digital pressure immediately after sternotomy and before closing the chest. In group II ORC will be cut and laid along the sternotomy over the intramedullary area immediately after sternotomy and it will be removed before closing the chest.; Other Names: Surgicel NU-KNIT
Active Comparator: NU-KNIT; ORC will be cut and laid along the sternotomy over the intramedullary area immediately after sternotomy and it will be removed before closing the chest	Procedure: Closure of sternotomy; In group I, spreading of BW on the sternal surfaces by digital pressure immediately after sternotomy and before closing the chest. In group II ORC will be cut and laid along the sternotomy over the intramedullary area immediately after sternotomy and it will be removed before closing the chest.; Other Names: Surgicel NU-KNIT

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Primary objective:	Determine the impact of using Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) concomitant on the post-operative drainage by evaluating mean post-operative drainage between the two agents (Bone-wax® versus Surgicel)	4 MONTHS

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Secondary objective:	Determine the impact of BW with electrocauterization, and Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) concomitant with electrocauterization on the rate of sternotomy wound infection after a month of the surgery, and 3 months period	4 MONTHS

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hamad Medical Corporation

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 10, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 31, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): January 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 5, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 5, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 5, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Infections; Surgical Wound Infection; Wound Infection
• Other Study ID Numbers: MRC-01-21-347

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No