The effect of hemostatic dressing prototypes for the uniformed services on selected blood coagulation parameters in pigs

BACKGROUND: Serious injuries accompanied by severe bleeding are life-threatening. Post-traumatic hemorrhage involves the risk of developing coagulopathy. Hemostatic dressings are widely used to minimize bleeding. The application of procoagulants in control of hemorrhage may lead to thrombosis or disseminated intravascular coagulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hemostatic dressing prototypes on the porcine coagulation system. RESULTS: Fibrinogen and d-dimer concentrations were significantly higher in the experimental groups where hemostatic dressings were used in comparison with the control group. Considerable differences in antithrombin III activity and thrombin–antithrombin complex concentrations were also observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The hemostatic dressing comprising modified seton impregnated with 18.0 g/m(2) of procoagulant was most effective in preserving the physiological equilibrium between fibrinogenesis and fibrinolysis.