The Efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper in Heparin‐Induced Hemostatic Abnormality in a Rat Epistaxis Model

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the in vivo hemostatic effect of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS). STUDY DESIGN: An experimental study of an animal anterior epistaxis model. SETTING: A tertiary care university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups of 7 each: group 1, control, no pretreatment, irrigated with saline; group 2, no pretreatment, irrigated with ABS; group 3, control, heparin pretreatment, irrigated with saline; and group 4, heparin pretreatment, irrigated with ABS. In all groups, a standardized rat epistaxis model was obtained by cutting the anterior nasal septal mucosa. To control bleeding, compressive dressings were placed after instilling 1 mL of either ABS or saline to the bleeding area. The hemostasis time and amount of nasal bleeding were measured in all groups to compare the treatments without and with ABS. RESULTS: Without heparin pretreatment, ABS shortened the hemostasis time by 1.57 minutes (P = .003) and reduced the amount of the bleeding by 0.35 g (P = .006). With heparin pretreatment, ABS shortened the hemostasis time by 2.86 minutes and reduced the amount of the bleeding by 0.49 g (both P = .002). CONCLUSION: ABS irrigation was more effective than saline irrigation for treating anterior epistaxis hemostasis in animals using a compressive dressing with or without heparin pretreatment.