Comparison of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine with commercially available topical hemostats for achieving hemostasis in coagulopathic models of splenic hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND
The hemostatic quality of the poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (p-GlcNAc) patch was compared with a fibrin sealant, fibrin bandage, and cellulose patch.


METHODS
A 2 x 2-cm capsular strip to a depth of 3 mm of the swine spleen was used as a source of bleeding. Splenic lacerations were created in hemophilia B dogs and treated with p-GlcNAc and Surgicel. Wounds were created in rabbits and treated with p-GlcNAc at 37degreesC and after keeping body core temperature at 29degreesC.


RESULTS
Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine was able to achieve hemostasis with greater efficacy than either of the fibrin-based bandages. In the hemophilia B dog study, p-GlcNAc significantly outperformed Surgicel, with p-GlcNAc achieving hemostasis in 75% of the treated wounds compared with 17% for the cellulose patch. The hypothermia study demonstrated that p-GlcNAc is equally effective at 29degreesC and at 37degreesC.


CONCLUSIONS
Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine was effective at controlling bleeding in animals with experimentally induced or genetic coagulopathic disorders.
Department of Surgery, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. sschwaitzberg@lifespan.org
Steven D
SD
Schwaitzberg
Michele W
MW
Chan
David J
DJ
Cole
Marjorie
M
Read
Timothy
T
Nichols
David
D
Bellinger
Raymond J
RJ
Connolly
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001831:Body Temperature; D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D005339:Fibrin Foam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002836:Hemophilia B / Q000150:complications; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D011817:Rabbits; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries*; D013552:Swine; D013917:Thrombin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications
D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005339:Fibrin Foam; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006490:Hemostatics; C113831:poly-N-acetyl glucosamine; C093991:tachocomb; C013695:Surgicel; D005340:Fibrinogen; D007611:Aprotinin; D013917:Thrombin; D000117:Acetylglucosamine