title: Effects of a topical hemostatic agent on an epistaxis model in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ankaferd BloodStopper (ABS) is a standardized herbal compound consisting of 5 different plant extracts. ABS, as a topical medicinal product, has been approved by the Turkish Ministry of Health for the management of dermal, external postsurgical and postdental surgery bleedings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the hemostatic effect of ABS in an experimental epistaxis model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult female New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. Standardized full-thickness mucosal wounds were created to provide bleeding on the right and left side of the nasal septum of rabbits with a 3-mm surgical punch. To stop bleeding, the wounds were treated with topical ABS on one side and with topical isotonic saline solution as a control on the other side of the nasal septum. Investigators were blinded to treatment. The duration of bleeding was measured in order to compare the hemo-static effect with ABS or topical isotonic saline solution. The wounds were observed for the duration of bleeding in order to compare the hemostatic effect of ABS with isotonic saline solution and acute adverse effects (AEs) for 30 minutes by a researcher blinded to treatment groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six rabbits (mean weight, 2.6 kg [range, 2.3-3.1 kg]) were used in this study. Mean (SD) bleeding time in the wounds administered ABS (98 [17] sec) was significantly less than that of the controls (266 [36] sec; P = 0.004). No AEs were observed up to 30 minutes after study initiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that ABS may be more effective in reducing time to hemostasis when compared with isotonic saline solution in this epistaxis model in rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hanifi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurtaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nebil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ark
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Serife Ugur
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sert
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Akin Altug
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ozboduroglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosar
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunduz
keywords: Ankaferd BloodStopper; epistaxis; experimental; hemostasis