Role of Platelet Gel in Surgery

Autologous platelet gel is a biologic substance that is prepared from the patient's own blood at the time of surgery. It is created by concentrating the platelets in whole blood into Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) through centrifugation. The PRP is mixed with calcium chloride and thrombin for application at the surgical site. Since PRP is autologous (made from your own blood), it minimizes the risk of disease transmission. Other substances used in surgery such as fibrin glues are prepared from allogeneic (made from blood other than yours) blood components.

How is Platelet Gel Formed and Used?

After platelets have been separated and concentrated into PRP they will remain stable for a number of hours. When it is time to apply the PRP to a wound, it is often mixed with a proportional amount of thrombin and calcium chloride by the physician which creates its gel like characteristics. This mixing process is done at the time of application.

What Role Do Growth Factors Play in Platelet Gel?

Growth factors specifically involved in the function of platelet gel are described below:

• Platelet Derived Growth Factors (PDGF), plays a role in tissue healing, including bone regeneration and repair. PDGF also increases mitogenesis (healing cells), angiogenesis (development of new capillaries), and macrophage activation (self-“cleaning” of the wound site).
• Epidermal Growth Factors (EGF) induces epithelial development and promotes angiogenesis.
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGF) are potent stimulators of angiogenesis and mitogenesis. In addition, they increase the permeability of endothelial cells, which aids in wound access to circulating blood cells.
•  Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-ß) plays a role in stimulating the migration of osteoblasts (bone-generating cells) to damaged bone tissue. In addition, TGF-β stimulates osteoblasts to deposit a matrix of collagen to help with wound healing and bone regeneration.

Function of Platelets and Leukocytes in Tissue Repair:

Platelets have been shown to release compounds to constrict blood vessels (thereby decreasing bleeding) and release multiple growth factors that directly stimulate wound healing. Leukocytes also participate in the wound healing process through production of growth factors, destruction of bacteria and foreign material and the digestive removal of damaged tissue in the wound.

Ask your doctor about his/her use of Platelet Rich Plasma in their surgery.