Int. Adv. Otol. 2010; 6(2); 155-159

The effect on hearing of a new hemostatic agent (ankaferd blood stopper) in rats.
M. Tayyar Kalcioglu, Tuba Bayindir, Mustafa Iraz, Serdar Kaya, Sermet Can
Inonu University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey

Objective: Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS), a standardized mixture of five plants, has been used as a hemostatic agent. Studies have shown the hemostatic effectivity of this agent that suggests a potential usage in otological surgeries. However,side effects on hearing of this agent are unknown. In this study, hearing affection of local and systemic usage of ABS was investigated by using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs).

Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were used. The animals were divided into four groups. Baseline DPOAE
measurements were performed. Subsequently, intratympanic ABS administration to the firstgroup and  intratympanic saline administration to the second group were performed. Intraperitoneal ABS was injected to the third group. The fourth group was not administered any intervention. Side effects of ABS on hearing were evaluated by repeated DPOAE measurements carried out before and at 1st, 7th, and 40th days following the applications.

Results: On days 7, and 40; measurement parameters of DPgrams of intratympanic ABS group were found to have significantly deteriorated in some frequencies (p(0.05). The measurements of the other groups revealed no significant differences (p>0.05). Hearing losswas not observed by systemic absorption but,determined following intratympanic application.

Conclusion: Our findings may suggest that this may be either due to ototoxic side effect of ABS, prolonged mass effect of it, or because of inflammation. Further studies with longer follow up period and histopathological examinations are needed to answer these existing questions.