Surgicel is a sterile, absorbable hemostat made of oxidized regenerated cellulose.
It’s used in surgeries to control bleeding, especially in capillaries, small veins, or small arterial bleeding when normal methods (suturing, cautery) aren’t ideal.
When it contacts blood, it swells into a gel‐like, brown/black clot that helps platelets aggregate and form a clot.
It has a low pH, which gives it some bactericidal properties.
It is absorbable: typically resorbs in about 7–14 days, though this may depend on the amount used and where it's placed.