Hemostatic Agents in Endodontic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Polytetrafluoroethylene Strips as an Adjunct to Epinephrine Impregnated Gauze Versus Aluminum Chloride.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Bleeding control is an important aspect in endodontic surgery. Two hemostatic techniques were compared with regard to their efficacy to bleeding control in endodontic surgery. METHODS: A randomized, 2-arm, parallel pilot study involving 30 patients with periradicular lesions was performed including the following hemostatic agents polytetrafluoroethylene strips as an adjunct to epinephrine-impregnated gauze (test group, n = 15) and aluminum chloride (control, n = 15). Bleeding control was independently assessed by the surgeon and 2 blinded observers before and after application of the hemostatic agent. Bleeding control was classified either as adequate (complete bleeding control) or inadequate (incomplete bleeding control). RESULTS: Hemostasis in both groups proved similar. Simple binary logistic regression analysis failed to identify variables affecting bleeding control. Only the height of the keratinized mucosa band (≥2 mm) suggested a risk reduction for an inadequate bleeding control up to 79% (odds ratio = 0.21, P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: No differences in the efficacy of bleeding control were observed between polytetrafluoroethylene strips as an adjunct to epinephrine-impregnated gauze and aluminum chloride.