Effectiveness of intravenous haemocoagulase on haemorrhage control in bi-maxillary orthognathic surgery-A prospective, randomised, controlled, double-blind study

Abstract

Haemocoagulase is a snake venom protein derivative that is known to possess haemostatic activity. It is reported to minimise blood loss in orthopaedic, otorhinolaryngologic, and abdominal surgeries. The use of intravenous haemocoagulase in orthognathic surgery is unknown and not yet reported. The purpose of this trial is to study the efficacy of haemocoagulase in haemorrhage control in orthognathic surgery. Forty-six consecutive patients scheduled to undergo bi-maxillary orthognathic surgery within the time period of the study were recruited and randomized. They received either the study drug or placebo. All patients underwent operation with hypotensive anaesthesia. Intraoperative blood loss, operating time, drop in haemoglobin and haematocrit were the variables analysed in the study. Haemocoagulase caused an 11% (52 ml) reduction in blood loss in the study group (p = 0.01). There was no adverse reaction in any of the patients.

Keywords: Blood loss; Haemocoagulase; Orthognathic surgery.