HAEMOSTATIC EFFECT OF ANKAFERD BLOOD STOPPER® SEEN DURING ADENOIDECTOMY

In Turkey, Ankaferd Blood Stopper (R) (ABS) has been approved for the management of external haemorrhages and bleedings occurring during dental surgeries (Goker et al., 2008). Ankaferd comprises a standardized mixture of plants, including Thymus vulgaris, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Vitis vinifera, Alpinia officinarum, and Urtica diodica. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ABS tamponade in the control of intra-operative bleeding occurring during adenoidectomy performed in children under the age of 12. Sixty children were randomized to receive 1 to 5 minute-tamponade with either ABS or topical gauze sponges soaked in saline solution (SS) during their adenoidectomy.. Time-to-haemostasis and the number of packs required were recorded. A visual analog scale was used by the operating surgeon to record subjective data, including the rate of bleeding following the first adenoid pack removal (0=none, 3=brisk). Compared to the children in the SS group (n=30), time-to-haemostasis seen in ABS patients (n=30) was significantly shorter (mean +/- standard deviation, 1.93 +/- 1.39 min vs 3.20 +/- 1.50 min; p<0.0001); they required a lower number of packs (mean, 1.93 vs. 3.20), and appeared to bleed less (53.3% vs 6.7%; p=0.0001). ABS aids in the control of intra-operative bleeding and reduces the number of packs required to achieve haemostasis, so that it can be recommended for tamponades performed during paediatric adenoidectomies.