Absorbable gelatin sponge explained

An absorbable gelatin sponge is a sterile hemostatic agent composed of purified porcine-derived gelatin. In regional chemotherapy, absorbable gelatin sponge may be used to embolize arteries in the region of a tumor in order to block or retard blood flow; this blockage results in a locally increased concentration of chemotherapeutic agents delivered to the tumor when chemotherapeutic agents are infused into the embolized arterial circulation upstream of the blockage.^[1] It is sometimes soaked with buprenorphine.^[2]

Further reading

• Shenoi PM . Ototoxicity of absorbable gelatin sponge . Proc. R. Soc. Med. . 66 . 2 . 193–6 . February 1973 . 4541382 . 1644504 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Definition of absorbable gelatin sponge - National Cancer Institute Drug Dictionary .
2. Mishra LD, Nath SS, Gairola RL, Verma RK, Mohanty S . Buprenorphine-soaked absorbable gelatin sponge: an alternative method for postlaminectomy pain relief . J Neurosurg Anesthesiol . 16 . 2 . 115–21 . April 2004 . 15021279 . 10.1097/00008506-200404000-00002. 23309356 .