Intervention
bleeding
BLEEDING
In the patch group, two PEG-coated, collagen-based, haemostatic patches (Hemopatch™ Sealing Hemostat, Baxter Aktiengesellschaft, Vienna, Austria) with a size of 9 × 4.5 cm per patch were used in each patient. The objective was to place one patch underside and another one anterior, once the anastomosis was completed, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Patches were usually placed in the absence of bleeding, although traces of blood from the surgical field may be enough to initiate activation of the patch PEG coating. In the case of an insufficient amount of blood, a few drops of sodium bicarbonate were applied over the dry tissue surface before application of the patch, increasing the covalent bonds between the tissue and the active surface of the patch and thus improving adherence. The PJ was left bare in the control group.