Ankaferd blood stopper in episiotomy repair

Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) is a new hemostatic agent that is licensed for external hemorrhages. ABS comprises of a standard mixture of Thymus vulgaris, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Vitis vinifera, Alpinia officinarum, and Urtica dioica which has also been approved in Turkey for the management of bleeding. The authors, aim was to evaluate the efficacy of ABS spray in terms of blood loss during episiotomy repair.

The authors included pregnant women with a term singleton fetus (37-40 wks) in a vertex position, who were at least 18-years-old, had delivered vaginally, and required a mediolateral episiotomy. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the two approaches: 20 (Group 1) to ABS and 20 (Group 2) to isotonic saline solution (0.9% NaCl). The authors applied 4 ml ABS spray solution (1 ml/puff X 4) or isotonic saline solution (0.9% NaCl) (4 ml) topically on a sponge applied on the episiotomy. The sponge was weighed before and after the episiotomy repair to determine the amount of bleeding. Hemoglobin values were also recorded on admission and 12 hours after delivery.

Both groups were similar in terms of maternal age, parity, body mass index and gestational age. The sponges weighed heavier in Group 2. Baseline hemoglobin values measured on admission showed no significant differences between the groups. Hemoglobin on the first postpartum day was significantly higher in the ABS group (p < 0.05). The operative time for episiotomy repair for the two groups was also statistically insignificant. No major immediate or delayed complications were observed in either group.

In this study group, the application of 4 ml of ABS instead of isotonic saline solution lessened bleeding.