Effectiveness of fibrin sealants in head and neck surgery: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: This review will investigate the effectiveness of fibrin sealants in adult patients who underwent head and neck surgery.

Introduction: Controlling bleeding is important in head and neck surgery. Complications involving nearby vital structures increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. Surgical tissue adhesives are used in addition to other traditional hemostatic methods to reduce surgical site bleeding. Fibrin sealants have shown some success compared with other tissue adhesives, but individual studies have been inconclusive.

Inclusion criteria: We will include studies comparing fibrin sealants with placebo or usual care in patients 18 years or older who have undergone soft tissue surgery of the head and neck with drain placement. Primary outcomes include wound complications and time to surgical drain removal. Secondary outcomes include length of hospital stay, drain volume output, surgical management of postoperative hematoma, rate of blood transfusions, and adverse reactions.

Methods: We will search electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science) for studies published from 1975 onwards. Sources to be search for unpublished literature will include ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, MedNar, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Titles, abstracts, and full-text papers will be assessed against the inclusion criteria by 2 independent reviewers. Study screening and selection will be performed, and critical appraisal conducted using the standardized JBI appraisal tools. Data will be extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Meta-analysis will be conducted for all outcomes where appropriate, with weighted mean differences for continuous data. Risk ratios will be used for dichotomous data. Certainty will be reported using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Review registration: PROSPERO CRD42023412820.