How Safe are the Xenogeneic Hemostats? Severe Systemic Allergic Reaction Report of a Case of

We report herein the unusual case of a 55-year-old woman who developed a severe systemic allergy to Avitene (microfibrillar collagen hydrochloride), a xenogeneic agent sometimes used for topical hemostasis in laparoscopic chole- cystectomy. The patient developed fever, general fatigue, mild liver dysfuction, and prominent eosinophilia postopera- tively. A skin allergy test confirmed that these abnormal findings were attributable to an allergic reaction to Avitene.