Why You Need to Know About Endoscopic Powder?

Endoscopic Powder: A Game-Changer in Haemostasis for Minimally Invasive Surgery


Image

Securing haemostasis effectively is essential for positive surgical outcomes. Besides reducing bleeding, proper haemostasis cuts down the chances of transfusions and post-surgical issues. In minimally invasive surgeries like laparoscopy or endoscopy, controlling bleeding is especially challenging due to limited space, visibility, and anatomical intricacy.

With the rise of less invasive surgery, adaptable and efficient haemostatic agents are more vital than ever, especially where standard techniques fail.

Challenges of Haemostasis in Minimally Invasive Surgery


Minimally invasive surgery provides advantages including faster healing and minimal scarring, but also presents new obstacles for bleeding control. These positive factors, however, increase the complexity of haemostasis. Reduced access, poor visualisation, and no sense of touch make handling bleeding in MIS more difficult.

Suturing, tying, or cauterising are not always feasible in minimally invasive procedures. This is where topical haemostatic products—particularly endoscopic powders—are essential for boosting visibility and rapid bleeding control.

Surgi-ORC® Powder: An Innovative Haemostatic Solution


Among haemostatic powders, plant-based, absorbable types like Surgi-ORC® have demonstrated both safety and effectiveness. ORC was first introduced in 1943 in sheet form and has since evolved to meet the demands of modern MIS through powder formulations.

Advantages of Surgi-ORC® Endoscopic Powder


• Fast Bleeding Control: ORC speeds up clotting by promoting platelet adhesion
• Adaptable Coverage: Powdered ORC easily conforms to irregular or deep wound areas
• Plant-Derived and Safe: No animal or human materials, so lower immune or infection risk
• Antibacterial Action: Acidic pH helps kill bacteria at the wound site
• Biodegradable and Safe: Powder is absorbed with no toxicity, even near sensitive structures

Thanks to these features, Surgi-ORC® powder excels at controlling bleeding from small vessels in restricted surgical fields.

Delivery Devices: Enhancing Precision in MIS


How the powder is delivered greatly influences its effectiveness in surgery. In MIS, bellows pump-based applicators are widely used to deliver endoscopic powder with accuracy and control.

How It Works


Syringe-style bellows devices, fitted with short or long tips, can deliver powder through MIS access points. The bellows mechanism lets surgeons deposit powder accurately without blocking the field of view.

Maximizing Effectiveness: Usage Tips


• Device Orientation: The angle of application (vertical/horizontal) affects how the powder spreads—often more than compression speed
• Powder Properties: The grain size and flowability, plus moisture sensitivity, impact delivery
• Application Style: The surgeon’s technique and compression force also influence powder delivery

Where Endoscopic Powder Excels in Practice


In cases where visibility is poor or anatomy is complex, endoscopic powder becomes an essential tool. Because of its conformability, surgeons can treat both broad raw surfaces and deep crevices with ease.

Endoscopic Powder is Commonly Used For:

• Laparoscopic liver resections
• Thoracic surgery procedures
• Gynaecology MIS surgeries
• Endoscopic submucosal dissections (ESD)
• Urologic procedures

Endoscopic powders boost surgical efficiency by speeding up haemostasis, cutting transfusion needs, and improving results.

Clinical Data Supporting ORC Powder


A postmarket clinical study evaluating SURGICEL® Powder (ORC-based haemostatic agent) in 103 patients undergoing various surgical procedures reported:

• 87.4% of patients had bleeding stopped in 5 minutes; 92.2% within 10 minutes
• Strong performance in open and minimally invasive settings
• No complications such as rebleeding, thromboembolism, or side effects reported
• Surgeons noted its ease of use, accuracy, and minimal need for extra measures

Overall, the data shows SURGICEL® Powder as a safe, effective, and adaptable haemostatic agent—especially when conventional tools aren’t enough.

Summary


The future of MIS depends on effective, next-generation haemostatic agents. Endoscopic powder, particularly ORC-based formulations, stands out as a reliable, fast-acting, and surgeon-friendly solution for bleeding control.

No matter the complexity—be it confined spaces, delicate organs, or irregular wounds—ORC endoscopic powder ensures safe, effective bleeding control for today’s surgical demands.

References


1. Zhang Y, Song D, Huang H, Liang Z, Liu H, Huang Y, Zhong C, Ye G. Minimally invasive hemostatic materials: tackling a dilemma of fluidity and adhesion by photopolymerization in situ. Scientific Reports. 2017 Nov 10;7(1):15250.

2. De la Torre RA, Bachman SL, Wheeler AA, Bartow KN, Scott JS. Hemostasis and hemostatic agents in minimally invasive surgery. Surgery. 2007 Oct 1;142(4):S39-45.

3. Al-Attar N, de Jonge E, Kocharian R, Ilie B, Barnett E, Berrevoet F. Safety and hemostatic effectiveness of SURGICEL® powder in mild and moderate intraoperative bleeding. Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis. 2023 Jul;29:10760296231190376.

4. Xiao X, Wu Z. A narrative review of different hemostatic materials in emergency treatment of trauma. Emerg Med Int. 2022;2022: 6023261

5. Stark M, Wang AY, Corrigan B, Woldu HG, Azizighannad S, Cipolla G, Endoscopic Powder Kocharian R, De Leon H. Comparative analyses of the hemostatic efficacy and surgical device performance of powdered oxidized regenerated cellulose and starch-based powder formulations. Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2025 Jan 1;9(1):102668.

6. Bustamante-Balén M, Plumé G. Role of hemostatic powders in the endoscopic management of gastrointestinal bleeding. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology. 2014 Aug 15;5(3):284.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *