The Ability to Perform Optimal Debridement in Patients on Anticoagulant Therapy With Use of a Chitosan-based Hemostatic Agent

SAWC FALL 2021 Poster (CS-006)

Aliza Lee, DPM; Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salem, VA 24153

This poster focuses on the use of OMNI-STAT® to achieve hemostasis and prevent further tissue injury following wound debridement performed in the outpatient setting on three patients taking multiple medications for anticoagulant therapy. Debridement is a key component in wound care. Optimal debridement in the outpatients setting can be difficult to obtain in patients taking anticoagulant therapy. This has the potential to prolong wound healing times. Current modalities for obtaining hemostasis can be time consuming or caustic to the tissues causing injury that can be detrimental to wound resolution. Choosing a non-caustic product that does not interfere with wound healing but allows adequate hemostasis is desirable. Chitosan, a naturally occurring biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic hemostatic agent with anti-microbial anti-fungal and wound healing promoting properties, stops bleeding without causing tissue injury seen with other chemical and electrocautery hemostatic modalities. Omni-Stat use in the three cases presented here allowed for the optimal debridement and early adjunctive use of other advance wound care modalities in case 1 and case 2. In Case 3 optimal debridement and Omni-Stat use alone with discontinuation of an antibiotic coated dressing, silver impregnated dressing and two different types of placental allographs lead to wound improvement with resolution achieved at only 10 weeks. Results of this case series demonstrated that Omni-Stat allows for optimal debridement in patients on anticoagulant therapy due to its ability to achieve rapid hemostasis. Wound resolution including a case where all other advanced dressings and allographs were discontinued suggests Omni-Stat’s ability to achieve hemostasis without causing tissues injury may aid and exopodite healing.

About Dr Aliza Lee

Aliza M Lee, DPM graduated from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and holds a Masters in Cell Biology. Si is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine with a Certificated of Added Qualification in Amputation Prevention and Wound Care. She has participated in various research projects within the realm of podiatry, wound care, and limb salvage. She currently works as attending staff at the Salem VA Medical Center where she also serves as the Co-Coordinator of the Prevention of Amputation in Veterans Everywhere (P.A.V.E.) Committee and Director of Podiatric Medical Education, overseeing podiatric student and residents.

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