Experimental experiences with the collagen sponge as hemostaticum and tampon

The paper sums up experimental data for the preparation of a collagen sponge to be used as hemostaticum or tampon. Optimal conditions were found with respect to the degree of porosity and tanning of the sponge in order to attain both these properties separately. The native sponge partially ages by storage and its stability increases with increase of temperature during storage. The heat‐induced stability of the sponge, however, is not as great as the stability induced by tanning agents. No effect of irradiation on the stability of the collagen sponge was found within doses of 1–10 Mrad. The speed of resorption and tissue reaction of the subcutaneously implanted native and tanned collagen sponge was followed up and no hypersensitive reaction by the tissue was found. However, different reactions of the tissue to native and to tanned sponge were ascertained.