Clinical study of chitosan-derivative-based hemostat in the treatment of split-thickness donor sites

Abstract

The hemostatic efficacy of a chitosan-derivative-based prototype was clinically evaluated in the treatment of split-thickness skin-graft donor sites in 17 patients, in comparison with two commercial materials. The test materials were placed randomly on the wound sites for 8 min. to stop the bleeding; the treated wounds were uncovered afterwards for evaluation. The total amount of blood loss in each treated wound was determined by measuring the blood absorbed in each used dressing. The bleeding area in each treated wound after an 8-min. treatment, was determined by wound image analysis. The amounts of blood loss measured from the wound sites treated with each material for 8 min. were found insignificantly different. However, from the visual observation and wound image analysis, the amount of blood ooze and the bleeding area after being left uncovered for 30, 60 and 90 sec. were significantly detected to be at a miniumum in wounds treated with the chitosan-derivative-based prototype, implying that the prototype could stop the bleeding most effectively