Prescription Drug Information: TachoSil

TACHOSIL- human thrombin and fibrinogen human patch
Baxter Healthcare Corporation

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

TachoSil is a fibrin sealant patch indicated for use with manual compression in adult and pediatric patients as an adjunct to hemostasis in cardiovascular and hepatic surgery when control of bleeding by standard surgical techniques (such as suture, ligature or cautery) is ineffective or impractical.

Limitations for Use

•

TachoSil cannot safely or effectively be used in place of sutures or other form of mechanical ligation for the treatment of major arterial or venous bleeding.

•

Not for use in children under one month of age.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

For topical use on cardiovascular or hepatic tissue only

•

Determine the number of patches to be applied by the size of the bleeding area.

•

Apply the yellow, active side of the patch to the bleeding area.

•

When applying TachoSil, do not exceed the maximum number of patches shown in Table 1 [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)].

Table 1. Amount of Fibrinogen and Thrombin per Total Patch Sizeand Maximum Number of TachoSil Patches to be Applied
TachoSil Patch Size	Human Fibrinogen (mg)	Human Thrombin (Units)	Maximum Number of Patches to be Applied
3.7 inch x 1.9 inch(9.5 cm x 4.8 cm)	337.4	123.1	10
1.9 inch x 1.9 inch(4.8 cm x 4.8 cm)	170.5	62.2	14

2.1 Preparation for Application

TachoSil comes ready to use in sterile packages and must be handled using sterile technique in aseptic conditions. Discard damaged packages as resterilization is not possible.

•When in the operating room, the outer aluminum foil pouch may be opened in a non-sterile environment (Fig. 1A). The inner sterile blister must be opened in a sterile environment (Fig. 1B).•Remove the TachoSil patch from the blister (Fig. 1C) , which can be used as a container for pre-moistening of the patch, if needed.•Determine the size of patch(es) to be applied to the bleeding surface. Select the appropriate TachoSil patch so that it extends 1 to 2 cm beyond the margins of the wound. The patch can be cut to the correct size and shape if desired (Fig. 1D). If more than one patch is used, overlap patches by at least 1 cm.•Prior to application, cleanse the area to be treated to remove disinfectants and other fluids. The fibrinogen and thrombin proteins can be denatured by alcohol, iodine or heavy metal ions. If any of these substances have been used to clean the wound area, thoroughly irrigate the area before the application of TachoSil.•Apply TachoSil directly to the bleeding area either wet or dry. If applied wet, pre-moisten TachoSil in 0.9% saline solution for no more than one minute and then apply immediately. In the case of a wet tissue surface (e.g., oozing bleeding) TachoSil may be applied without pre-moistening.

Figure 1: Pictures illustrating steps for preparation for application of TachoSil

A	B	C	D

2.2 Method of Application

•Cleanse surgical instruments, gloves and adjacent tissues with saline solution to reduce the adherence to the TachoSil patch. The white, inactive side of TachoSil may also adhere to surgical instruments (e.g., forceps), gloves or adjacent tissues covered with blood due to the affinity of collagen to blood. It is important to note that failure to adequately clean adjacent tissues may cause adhesions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].•Apply the yellow, active side of the patch to the bleeding area (Fig. 2A) and hold in place with gentle pressure applied through moistened gloves or a moist pad for at least three minutes (Fig. 2B).•To avoid pulling the patch loose, first place a clean surgical instrument at one end of the patch before relieving the pressure (Fig. 2C). Gentle irrigation may also aid in removing the pre-moistened pad or gloved hand without removing TachoSil from the bleeding area.•Leave TachoSil in place once it adheres to organ tissue. Only remove unattached TachoSil patches (or part of) and replace with new patches.•TachoSil cannot be resterilized once removed from inner pouch. Discard unused, opened packages of TachoSil at the end of the procedure.

Figure 2: Pictures illustrating steps for method of application of TachoSil

A	B	C

Record patient name and TachoSil batch number every time that TachoSil is administered to a patient.

2.3 Retreatment

If not satisfied with the placement of the patch, or if bleeding still occurs during or after the specified duration of compression, repeat application procedure above. Do not remove already applied TachoSil.

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

TachoSil is a topical fibrin sealant patch consisting of human fibrinogen and human thrombin coated onto an equine collagen sponge. The active side of the patch is yellow in color due to the presence of a colorant riboflavin (E101); and the non-active side is off-white in color.

Strength:

Each absorbable TachoSil patch contains:

Per square inch:

Human fibrinogen	23.2 – 47.7 mg (35.5 mg)
Human thrombin	8.4 – 17.4 Units (12.9 U)

Per square centimeter:

Human fibrinogen	3.6 – 7.4 mg (5.5 mg)
Human thrombin	1.3 – 2.7 Units (2.0 U)

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

Do not use TachoSil for:

•

Intravascular application. Bleeding from large defects in visible arteries or veins where the injured vascular wall requires repair and maintenance of vessel patency or where there would be persistent exposure of TachoSil to blood flow during absorption of the product. This can result in life-threatening thromboembolic events [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

•

Individuals known to have anaphylactic or severe systemic reaction to human blood products or horse proteins [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Thrombosis

Thrombosis can occur if TachoSil is applied intravascularly. Ensure that TachoSil is applied to the surface of cardiac, vascular, or hepatic tissue only.

5.2 Hypersensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity or allergic/anaphylactoid reactions may occur with TachoSil. Symptoms associated with allergic anaphylactic reactions include: flush, urticaria, pruritus, nausea, drop in blood pressure, tachycardia or bradycardia, dyspnea, severe hypotension and anaphylactic shock. These reactions may occur in patients receiving TachoSil for the first time or may increase with repetitive applications of TachoSil.

5.3 Infection

Avoid application to contaminated or infected areas of the body, or in the presence of active infection.

5.4 Adhesions

TachoSil contains collagen, which may adhere to bleeding surfaces.

To prevent the development of tissue adhesions at undesired sites, ensure tissue areas outside the desired application area are adequately cleansed before administration of TachoSil [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)]. Events of adhesions to gastrointestinal tissues leading to gastrointestinal obstruction have been reported with use in abdominal surgery carried out in proximity to the bowel.

5.5 Compression

When placing TachoSil into cavities or closed spaces, avoid packing because this may cause compression of underlying tissue.

5.6 Dislodged Material

Use only minimum amount of TachoSil patches necessary to achieve hemostasis. Do not pack. Theoretically, excess patch material can become dislodged and migrate to other areas of the body. Remove unattached pieces of TachoSil; if medically necessary [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

5.7 Transmissible Infectious Agents

Because the biological components of this product are made from human blood, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents (e.g., viruses), and theoretically, the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) agent and the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent. The risk that TachoSil will transmit an infectious agent has been reduced by screening plasma donors for prior exposure to certain viruses, by testing for the presence of certain virus infections, and by inactivating and removing, certain viruses [see Description (11)]. Despite these measures, such products can still potentially transmit disease. There is also the possibility that unknown infectious agents may be present in such products.

All infections thought by a physician possibly to have been transmitted by this product should be reported by the physician or other healthcare provider to Baxter Healthcare Corporation, at telephone number 1-866-888-2472. The physician should discuss the risks and benefits of this product with the patient.

Some viruses, such as parvovirus B19, are particularly difficult to remove or inactivate at this time. Parvovirus B19 most seriously affects pregnant women (fetal infection); immune-compromised individuals or individuals with an increased erythropoiesis (e.g., hemolytic anemia) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) and Patient Counseling Information (17)].