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

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.