December 9, 2008
11:30 AM-1:30 PM
“The Use of Topical Thrombin in Surgical Hemostasis”
Orange County Convention Center
Contact: Dannielle McGuire
dannielle.m@aandomeded.com
Tel: 732-356-9266

Course Description:

Hemostasis (or clot formation) is defined as the arrest of bleeding from an injured blood vessel. In surgery, extrinsically applied hemostatic agents facilitate clot formation and help arrest bleeding by initiating various steps in the coagulation cascade. Thrombin is a key plasma protease in the clotting cascade; topically applied thrombin has made an excellent extrinsic hemostatic agent in the surgical armamentarium.
 
As the use of topically applied thrombin increases in more and more surgical procedures, there is a clear need for education. With the availability of bovine thrombin, a human plasma-derived thrombin, and a recombinant human thrombin, it is important for pharmacists and physicians to understand the risks and benefits of each treatment option and utilize the most appropriate treatment regimen for the patient’s individual needs in order to enhance clinical and functional outcomes.   
 
Health-system pharmacists will learn about the benefits of thrombin as a hemostatic agent peri-operatively and the risks involved with the use of xenogeneic thrombin. The course will take place on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Mid-Year Meeting in Orlando, Florida. The course is supported by an unrestricted medical education grant from ZymoGenetics and will be accredited by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM).  Alpha & Omega will act as PIM's educational partner for the session and provide the faculty with logistical support.   

Objectives:

• Describe the pharmacology of topically applied thrombin as a hemostatic agent in surgical procedures
• Outline the risks and benefits of thrombin agents
• Describe the mechanism of immune-mediated coagulopathy in patients who have been exposed to bovine thrombin    
• Identify the healthcare resources utilized in association with acquired coagulopathy in the surgical setting