The hemostatic efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper in adenoidectomy

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) in the control of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding in adenoidectomy. Methods: In total, 90 patients underwent traditional cold steel adenoidectomy and were then randomized to receive ABS or 0.9% physiological saline solution to obtain hemostasis. Objective data collected included time of operation and blood loss during operation. Visual analog scales (VAS) were used to record subjective data by the operating surgeon including bleeding following adenoid pack removal and ease of operation. Results: In a comparison between patients in the ABS group (n = 46) and the control group (n = 44), those in the ABS group had significantly shorter operation times (9.11 +/- 1.02 vs. 13.16 +/- 3.96 min; p < 0.001) and less blood loss during the operation (20.19 +/- 8.59 vs. 25.48 +/- 12.96 ml; p <= 0.05) and a shorter hemostasis time (3.83 +/- 0.8 vs. 5.82 +/- 1.67 min; p < 0.001). Regarding hemorrhage after tampon removal, 40 patients (87%) in the ABS group and 17 patients (38.6%) in the control group did not suffer from hemorrhage (p < 0.001). Regarding ease of hemostasis, 40 patients (87%) in the ABS group experienced very easy or easy hemostasis while 26 patients in the control group did so (59.1%; p = 0.004). Patients in the ABS group returned to a regular diet earlier and had less use of analgesics at 7 days postoperatively. Use of electrocautery was less in the ABS group than in the control group (10.9 vs. 40.9%; p = 0.001). Conclusions: The side on which ABS was used showed significant differences in hemostasis time, blood loss, and ease of hemostasis. ABS appears to be safe and effective; it decreases intraoperative bleeding and reduces operating time when compared to traditional hemostasis methods after curette adenoidectomy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.