Topical hemostatic agents help surgeons control bleeding when sutures, ligation or cautery are impractical or not enough. Operating rooms usually stock several formats, and the names can be confusing: Surgicel, Surgiflo, Floseal and Arista are all hemostatic agents, but they work differently and come in different forms. This guide groups the most common products by format so purchasing teams know what each one is and what to check before ordering.
The main types of hemostatic agents
Sheets and fabrics
Sheet hemostats are placed directly on the bleeding surface and can usually be cut to size. Surgicel is Ethicon’s family of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) hemostats, including Surgicel Original, Fibrillar, SNoW, Nu-Knit and Powder. Absorbable gelatin sponges, such as Ethicon Surgifoam, are another common option.
Flowable hemostats
Flowable hemostats are gelatin matrices applied through a syringe or applicator tip, which lets them reach irregular surfaces and tight spaces. Floseal Hemostatic Matrix from Baxter comes with thrombin in the kit, while Surgiflo Hemostatic Matrix from Ethicon is used with thrombin and is available as a matrix alone or as a kit with thrombin.
Powders
Powder hemostats are sprayed or dusted across broad or diffuse bleeding surfaces. Arista AH is an absorbable powder made from plant-based modified polymer particles, and Baxter’s PerClot is another absorbable powder.
Sealants and patches
Surgical sealants and fibrin patches, such as Baxter’s TachoSil fibrin sealant patch and Artivion’s BioGlue surgical adhesive, are a related category used in specific procedures. They are often stocked alongside hemostats but serve different purposes, so check the labeling before substituting one for another.
Surgicel vs Surgiflo vs Floseal vs Arista
| Product | Manufacturer | Format | Common reference numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgicel Original | Ethicon | ORC knitted sheet | 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955 |
| Surgicel Fibrillar | Ethicon | ORC layered fibers | 1961, 1962, 1963 |
| Surgiflo | Ethicon | Flowable gelatin matrix, used with thrombin | 2991, 2994, SF2995 (kit with thrombin) |
| Floseal with Recothrom | Baxter | Flowable gelatin matrix with thrombin | ADS202105 (5ml), ADS202110 (10ml) |
| Arista AH | Bard | Absorbable powder | SM0005-USA (1g), SM0002-USA (3g), SM0007-USA (5g) |
How facilities decide what to stock
Choosing a hemostatic agent for a patient is a clinical decision made by the surgeon. For purchasing teams, stocking decisions usually come down to:
- Surgeon preference by specialty: cardiac, spine, orthopedic and general surgery teams often favor different formats.
- Format coverage: most operating rooms keep at least one sheet, one flowable and one powder on hand.
- Size mix: sheets come in several dimensions and flowables in several volumes, so stock the sizes used most.
- Thrombin: flowables are used with thrombin, so decide whether to buy kits that include it or matrices alone.
- Dating and storage: check expiration dates and storage requirements on receipt, and rotate stock.
Why hemostats go on backorder
Hemostatic agents are high-use items across many specialties, so supply disruptions are felt quickly. When a preferred product is on backorder, facilities often need a secondary source for the same reference number, or a clinically approved alternative in the same format. Our SKU availability checker lets you paste every hemostat reference number on your list and see what is available at once.
Shop hemostatic agents
Browse all topical hemostats, flowable hemostats and surgical sealants and adhesives at Class 1 Inventory, or contact our team for a quote. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
