Aluminum Chloride versus Electrocauterization in Periapical Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 2 hemostatic agents in periapical surgery and its relationship with patient- and tooth-dependent variables.

A prospective study was designed with 2 randomized parallel groups established according to the hemostatic agent used: aluminum chloride or electrocauterization. The surgeon and 2 independent blinded observers examined the initial and final bleeding and recorded it as 0 (no hemorrhage control), 1 (slight but apparent intermittent bleeding), or 2 (complete hemorrhage control). The following patient- and tooth-dependent variables were collected: sex, age, smoking habit, plaque index, and position.

Sixty patients with a periapical lesion in the esthetic zone were enrolled in this study and divided into 2 groups of 30 patients. In the aluminum chloride group, complete hemorrhage control was achieved in 24 patients, and in the electrocauterization group, it was achieved in 18 patients (P < .05). A relationship between sex and the effectiveness of hemostasis was found; a female patient increases the possibility of achieving complete hemorrhage control.

Hemorrhage control was better in the aluminum chloride group than in the electrocauterization group as well as in female patients compared with male patients.