• Joanne Favuzza and Herbert B Hechtman.
• Department Surgery, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
• J Trauma. 2004 Jul 1; 57 (1 Suppl): S42-4.

BackgroundThis study tests whether the hemostatic action of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (p-GlcNAc) fiber material involves vasoconstrictor release leading to closure of an aortic laceration.MethodsA 22-gauge cannula was inserted into an infrarenal aortic segment of a rat. Surrounding ligatures were tied, and the aorta was flushed with 60 mL of saline from a reservoir held at 80 cm. A 23-gauge aortic puncture was made. The time taken to empty the reservoir was recorded.ResultsControl patches led to an emptying time of 295 seconds, whereas p-GlcNAc patches increased this time to greater than 600 seconds. Ten minutes after patch removal, the emptying time decreased to 330 seconds. The rats were treated intravenously with endothelin receptor antagonists BQ-485 or JKC-301. The emptying time shortened to control values, despite the use of the p-GlcNAc fiber-based patch.ConclusionThe mechanism of hemostasis by poly-N-acetyl glucosamine involves endothelin release independent of formed elements of blood.

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