TISSEEL

This abbreviated summary of product characteristics (SPC) is intended for international use. Please note that it may differ from the licensed SPC in the country where you are practicing.

Therefore, please always consult your country-specific SPC or package leaflet.

TISSEEL 

Fibrin Sealant

TISSEEL Lyo – Powders and solvents for sealant 

TISSEEL – Solutions for sealant

COMPOSITION (after mixing), per 1ml 

Component 1 (Sealer protein solution): Human fibrinogen (as clottable protein) 45.5mg, Aprotinin (synthetic) 1500 KIU

Component 2 (Thrombin solution): Human thrombin 250 IU, Calcium chloride 20 μmol

INDICATIONS

Supportive treatment where standard surgical techniques appear insufficient 

• For improvement of hemostasis
• As a tissue glue to improve wound healing or to support sutures in vascular surgery, in gastrointestinal anastomoses
• For tissue sealing, to improve adhesion of the separated tissue (e.g. tissue flaps, grafts, split skin grafts [mesh grafts]).

The efficacy in fully heparinized patients has been proven. 

CONTRAINDICATIONS

TISSEEL alone is not indicated for the treatment of massive and brisk arterial or venous bleeding.

TISSEEL is not indicated to replace skin sutures intended to close surgical wound.

TISSEEL must never be applied intravascularly. Intravascular application may result in life-threatening thromboembolic events. TISSEEL must not be applied in case of hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients. 

SPECIAL WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS FOR USE

For epilesional use only. Do not apply intravascularly. Life threatening thromboembolic complications may occur if the preparation is unintentionally applied intravascularly.

Caution must be used when applying fibrin sealant using pressurized gas. Any application of pressurized gas is associated with a potential risk of air or gas embolism, tissue rupture, or gas entrapment with compression, which may be life-threatening. Apply TISSEEL as a thin layer. Excessive clot thickness may negatively interfere with the product’s efficacy and the wound healing process. 

Life-threatening/fatal air or gas embolism has occurred with the use of spray devices employing a pressure regulator to administer fibrin sealants. This event appears to be related to the use of the spray device at higher than recommended pressures and/or in close proximity to the tissue surface. The risk appears to be higher when fibrin sealants are sprayed with air, as compared to CO2 and therefore cannot be excluded with TISSEEL when sprayed in open wound surgery. When applying TISSEEL using a spray device, be sure to use a pressure within the pressure range recommended by the spray device manufacturer.  TISSEEL spray application should only be used if it is possible to accurately judge the spray distance as recommended by the manufacturer. Do not spray closer than the recommended distances. When spraying TISSEEL, changes in blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation and end tidal CO2 should be monitored because of the possibility of occurrence of air or gas embolism. 

TISSEEL must not be used with the Easy Spray/Spray Set system in enclosed body areas.

Before the administration of TISSEEL, care is to be taken that parts of the body outside the designated application area are sufficiently protected/covered to prevent tissue adhesion at undesired sites. 

If fibrin sealants are applied in confined spaces, e.g. the brain or the spinal cord, the risk of compressive complications should be taken into account. 
To ensure adequate mixing of the sealer protein component and the thrombin component, the first few drops of the product from the application canula should be expelled and discarded immediately before use.

As with any protein-containing product, allergic type hypersensitivity reactions are possible. Intravascular application might increase the likelihood and severity of acute hypersensitivity reactions in susceptible patients. 

Hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions (also fatal, including anaphylactic shock) have been reported with TISSEEL. Signs of hypersensitivity reactions may include hives, generalized urticaria, tightness of the chest, wheezing, hypotension. If these symptoms occur, the administration must be discontinued immediately and the currently valid standard measures for the treatment of shock are to be taken. Remaining product must be removed from the site of application. 

TISSEEL contains a synthetic protein (aprotinin). Even in case of strict local application, there is a risk of anaphylactic reaction linked to the presence of aprotinin. The risk seems to be higher in cases where there was previous exposure, even if it was well tolerated. Therefore any use of aprotinin or aprotinin containing products should be recorded in the patients’ records. As synthetic aprotinin is structurally identical to bovine aprotinin the use of TISSEEL in patients with allergies to bovine proteins should be carefully evaluated. In two retrospective, non-randomized studies in coronary bypass surgery, patients who received fibrin sealant showed a statistically significant increased risk of mortality. While these studies could not provide a causal relationship, the increased risk associated with the use of TISSEEL in these patients cannot be excluded. Therefore, additional care should be taken to avoid inadvertent intravascular administration of this product. Injection into the nasal mucosa must be avoided, as thromboembolic complications may occur in the area of the arteria ophthalmica. 

Injecting TISSEEL into tissue carries the risk of local tissue damage.

TISSEEL should only be applied as a thin layer. Excessive clot thickness may negatively interfere with the product’s efficacy and the wound healing process. Polysorbate 80 may cause locally limited skin irritations such as contact dermatitis. Standard measures to prevent infections resulting from the use of medicinal products prepared from human blood or plasma include selection of donors, screening of individual donations and plasma pools for specific markers of infection and the inclusion of effective manufacturing steps for the inactivation/removal of viruses. Despite this, when medicinal products prepared from human blood or plasma are administered, the possibility of transmitting infective agents cannot be totally excluded. This also applies to unknown or emerging viruses or other pathogens. These measures are considered effective for enveloped viruses such as HIV, HBV, and HCV, and for the non-enveloped virus HAV.  The measures taken may be of limited value against non-enveloped viruses such as parvovirus B19. Parvovirus B19 infection may be serious for pregnant women (fetal infection) and for individuals with immunodeficiency or increased erythropoiesis (e.g., hemolytic anemia). It is strongly recommended that every time that TISSEEL is administered to the patient, the name and batch number of the product are recorded in order to maintain a link between the patient and the batch of the product. Oxidized cellulose-containing preparations should not be used with TISSEEL.

UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS

Hypersensitivity or allergic reactions (which may include but are not limited to angioedema, burning and stinging at the application site, bradycardia, bronchospasm, chills, breathing difficulties, transient erythema (“flushing”), generalized urticaria, headache, hives, hypotension, lethargy, nausea, pruritus, restlessness, tachycardia, tightness of the chest, tingling, vomiting, wheezing) may occur in rare cases in patients treated with fibrin sealants / hemostatics, anaphylactic reactions and anaphylactic shock have included fatal outcomes. In isolated cases, these reactions have progressed to severe anaphylaxis. Such reactions may especially be seen if the preparation is applied repeatedly, or administered to patients known to be hypersensitive to aprotinin or any other constituents of the product. Even if repeated treatment with TISSEEL was well tolerated, a subsequent administration of TISSEEL or systemic administration of aprotinin may result in severe anaphylactic reactions. Antibodies against components of the fibrin sealant / hemostatic may occur in rare cases. Inadvertent intravascular injection may result in thromboembolic events and DIC. Furthermore there is the risk of an anaphylactic reaction. The following adverse reactions have been reported from clinical studies investigating the safety and efficacy of TISSEEL and from post-marketing experience with Baxter Fibrin Sealants: 

Very common (>1/10): Seroma

Common (>1/100 to < 1/10): Postoperative wound infection, Sensory disturbance, anxillary vein thrombosis, Rash, Pain in an extremity, Pain, and Increased body temperature.

Uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100): fibrin degradation products increased, hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylactic reactions, anaphylactic shock, paresthesia, bronchospasm, wheezing, pruritis, erythema, bradycardia, tachycardia, haematoma (NOS), embolism arterial, cerebral artery embolism, cerebral infarction, dyspnoea, nausea, intestinal obstruction, urticaria, impaired healing, flushing, oedema, angioedema, procedural pain.
Rare ( >1/10,000 to <1/1,000): hypotension

Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data): Air embolism

Class Reactions

Other adverse reactions associated with the fibrin sealant/hemostatic class include: manifestations of hypersensitivity include application site irritation, chest discomfort, chills, headache, lethargy, restlessness, and vomiting.

METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION

The use of TISSEEL is restricted to experienced surgeons who have been trained in the use of TISSEEL. In order to ensure optimal safe use of TISSEEL by spray application the following recommendations should be followed:

Recommended pressure, distance and devices for spray application of TISSEEL:

Open wound Surgery: 

        Spray set: TISSEEL/ARTISS spray set

        Pressure regulator: EasySpray

        Recommended distance from target tissue: 10-15 cm

        Recommended spray pressure: 1.5-2.0 bar (21.5-28.5 psi).

Laparoscopic/ minimally invasive procedures:

        Spray set: n.a.

        Applicator tip: Duplospray MIS Applicator 

        Pressure regulator: Duplospray MIS Regulator 

        Recommended distance from target tissue: 2-5 cm

        Recommended spray pressure: 1.2-1.5 bar (18-22 psi)

When spraying the TISSEEL, changes in blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation and end tidal CO2 should be monitored because of the possibility of occurrence of air or gas embolism.

For the application of TISSEEL in enclosed thoracic and abdominal spaces the DuploSpray MIS applicator and regulator system is recommended. Please refer to the instruction manual of the DuploSpray MIS device.

For posology, incompatibilities and interactions, please refer to the full SPC.

Medicinal product subject to medical prescription.

September 2018

Please see the Summary for Product Characteristic (Lyophilized)

Please see the Summary for Product Characteristic (Frozen)