Christian Kastrup
Researchers have shown that a self-propelling clotting technology developed by a UBC scientist could be useful in stopping bleeding – even catastrophic bleeding – during head and neck surgery.
The experiments provide more evidence that the technology has the potential to replace surgeons’ reliance on packing or other techinques to control bleeding, especially in situations where it’s difficult to find the source.
The formulation was developed by Christian Kastrup, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and James Baylis, a graduate student in biomedical engineering. They combined a clotting agent, or coagulant, to a calcium carbonate propellant, which effervesces like antacid tablets when it comes in contact with water in the blood. The resulting release of gas allows the coagulant to overcome the force of outflowing blood, getting it to the source of bleeding and keeping it there to seal the wound.
The formulation has been effective in stopping bleeding in animal models of trauma. Dr. Kastrup, working with Amin Javer, a Clinical Professor of Surgery, then moved to test it in an animal model of sinus surgery – a procedure in which bleeding is often difficult to stop because of the narrow field of view.
“Stopping major bleeding with coagulants alone is challenging,” said Baylis, the lead author of the study, published in November in The Laryngoscope. “But this effervescing formulation could give surgeons opportunity and clear vision to stop the bleeding surgically, such as by tying off ruptured vessels.”
Before Dr. Kastrup’s self-propelled coagulant is tried in humans, the researchers say more studies in animal models are needed to determine if there are any long-term safety risks.