What is typically soaked in thrombin to achieve hemostasis during surgical procedures?

The correct response relates to the use of Gelfoam, which is often soaked in thrombin to facilitate hemostasis during surgical procedures. Gelfoam is a gelatin-based hemostatic agent used to control bleeding, particularly in areas where traditional surgical techniques may not be sufficient or feasible. When Gelfoam is saturated with thrombin, it promotes rapid clot formation by enhancing the natural coagulation process, effectively sealing off bleeding vessels. The combination of the porous structure of Gelfoam and thrombin's pro-coagulant properties creates an environment conducive to hemostasis, particularly in soft tissue surgeries.

In contrast, surgical gauze, while used in many surgical contexts, does not have the same hemostatic properties when soaked in thrombin and is primarily intended for absorption of blood and fluids rather than actively promoting clotting. Absorbable sutures also do not provide immediate hemostatic support, as they are designed for tissue approximation rather than coagulation. Mesh implants serve structural purposes in specific procedures, such as hernia repairs, and are not involved in achieving hemostasis when soaked in thrombin.