title: Assessment of the efficacy of Ankaferd blood stopper on the prevention of postoperative pericardial adhesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ankaferd has been used as a blood-stopping agent and it may also have an anti-inflammatory effect. We investigated the efficacy of Ankaferd in preventing postoperative pericardial adhesions in an experimental rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were used and categorised into two groups: an Ankaferd and a control group. The Ankaferd group of rabbits was treated with a sponge impregnated with Ankaferd solution, which was applied over the abraded epicardium. A sponge impregnated with 0.9% isotonic NaCl solution was applied to the control group using the same protocol. Scores for adhesion and visibility of coronary vessels were graded by macroscopic examination, and pericardial tissues were analysed microscopically in terms of inflammation and fibrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the Ankaferd group, the adhesion scores were significantly higher than in the control group (p = 0.007). When the groups were compared according to the prevalence of fibrosis and degree of inflammation, the Ankaferd group was found to be statistically significantly different from the control group in terms of prevalence of fibrosis (p = 0.028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical application of Ankaferd to prevent postoperative pericardial adhesions increased adhesion and fibrosis scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nazli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Necmettin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Fatih
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Alpay
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hacer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haltas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer Nuri
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail Olgun
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Akkaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cakir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; C539751:ankaferd blood stopper