The efficacy of a hemostatic agent in anticoagulant drug-induced rat bleeding model

Background
Bleeding is the major problem in warfarin pretreated patients especially who need emergency surgerical procedures. APH is a hemostatic agent with ultra-hydrophilic and particulate properties. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo hemostatic effect of APH in rats pretreated with warfarin.
Methods
Forty eight Wistar rats were divided into two main groups: one group was pretreated with warfarin and the other group was not. These two groups was further divided into 3 subgroups according to the administration of APH, wheat meal or saline, for a total of 6 subgroups. Standard full thickness tissue defects were performed on the back of the rats. Saline, wheat meal or APH were administered to the bleeding defect site in both main groups. Haemostasis time and amount of bleeding were calculated.
Results
The bleeding time in rats administered APH was significantly shorter than those administered wheat meal and saline and consequently amount of bleeding was significantly less than those of the control groups.
Conclusion
APH has an effective hemostatic property in rats pretreated or non-pretreated with anticoagulants. Hemostatic agents can be usefull for external bleedings which are growing because of anticoagulation.