Bismuth Subgallate as a Local Hemostatic Agent: Pilot Animal Experiments

Patients on clopidogrel increased bleeding risk after surgery. This drug prolonged bleeding time, increased bleeding volume and induced secondary bleeding because its active metabolite inhibited platelets aggregation and interfered with haemostatic plug stabilization. Conventional methods, such as pressing sterile gauze on the surgery site, showed less effective to stop bleeding in patients on clopidogrel. This research aims to prove the haemostatic effect of bismuth subgallate both on normal and delayed platelet aggregation due to clopidogrel. Twenty-eight Wistar rats were equally and randomly administered with clopidogrel (10 mg/kgBW) or NaCl 0.9 (saline) via oral gavage. After anesthetizing, we amputated transversely their tail 10 mm from the distal tip. Bleeding after amputation was controlled with pressing gauze soaked in saline or bismuth subgallate solution. After 60 seconds, bleeding assays (bleeding time, bleeding volume, and secondary bleeding) have been observed, recorded, and analysed both in norm