Efficacy of Calcium Alginate in Prevention of Hepatic Parenchymal Bleeding: An Experimental Study

Abstract

AIM: Control of hepatic bleeding is still a major problem in hepatic surgery and abdominal trauma. In this study we assesed the effectiveness of Calcium Alginate to improve hepatic parenchymal bleeding in liver trauma or elective hepatic surgery. METHODS: We studied on a hepatic laceration model in 27 female Wistar albino rats. Subjects were divided into two groups; study group (n=12) and control group (n=15). Amount of intraoperative bleeding, preoperative and postoperative hematocrit levels and the difference between them were compared. RESULTS: In comparision of intraoperative bleeding; in study group, bleeding was less in study group (1.31±0.69 mL) than that in control group (2.03±0.83 mL) (p=0.02). There was a significant decrease in hematocrit level in both groups. Decrease in hematocrit levels in the study group (5.25±3.67) was signifiantly less than that in control group (11.2±3.9L) (p=0.002). In histopathological examination, Calcium Alginate fibers were surrounded by inflammatory cells. There was intense fibrosis around the fibers and contacting tissues. In control group, there was no fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium Alginate is an effective hemostatic agent in the improvement of hepatic parenchymal bleeding. But it can cause intraabdominal adhesions and intestinal obstruction in long term, if it is leaved in vivo.