Hemostatic efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper in a swine bleeding model.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to show the hemostatic effect of spray, solution and tampon forms of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS), a unique medicinal plant extract historically used as a hemostatic agent in Turkish folklore medicine, in a porcine bleeding model.


METHODS
Two 1-year-old pigs were used as bleeding models for superficial and deep skin lacerations, grade II liver and spleen injuries, grade II saphenous vein injury and grade IV saphenous artery injury. Spray, solution or tampon forms of ABS were applied after continuing bleeding was confirmed. The primary outcome was time to hemostasis. Volume of blood loss was not measured. The pigs were euthanized at the end of the experiment.


RESULTS
Spray or direct application of ABS solution resulted in instant control of bleeding in superficial and deep skin lacerations as well as puncture wounds of the liver. A 40-second application of ABS tampon was sufficient to stop bleeding of skin lacerations, while 1.5- and 3.5-min applications were used to control hemorrhage from the saphenous vein and artery, respectively. No rebleeding was observed once hemostasis was achieved. However, repeated applications of ABS solution and tampon were only temporarily effective in the hemostasis of spleen injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The data showed that ABS was an effective hemostatic agent for superficial and deep skin lacerations and minor/moderate trauma injuries in a porcine bleeding model.
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Hasan
H
Bilgili
Ali
A
Kosar
Mevlut
M
Kurt
Ibrahim K
IK
Onal
Hakan
H
Goker
Ozge
O
Captug
Ali
A
Shorbagi
Mehmet
M
Turgut
Murat
M
Kekilli
Ozlem Kar
OK
Kurt
Serafettin
S
Kirazli
Salih
S
Aksu
Ibrahim C
IC
Haznedaroglu
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000293:injuries; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D037901:Euthanasia, Animal; D005495:Folklore; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D022125:Lacerations / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000293:injuries; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries; D013552:Swine; D013630:Tampons, Surgical; D014421:Turkey; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000188:drug therapy*
D006490:Hemostatics; D010936:Plant Extracts; C539751:ankaferd blood stopper