Hemostatic protein polymer sheath: improvement in hemostasis at percutaneous biopsy in the setting of platelet dysfunction.

To study the effectiveness of the protein polymer sheath (PPS), a device intended to limit hemorrhage caused by percutaneous biopsy, in the setting of platelet dysfunction (which may be an important cause of such hemorrhage), percutaneous biopsies were performed in eight anesthetized pigs: four control pigs and four pigs treated with the experimental aspirinlike drug venopirin. These biopsies were performed with (a) a cutting needle only, (b) the cutting needle equipped with the PPS, and (c) the cutting needle equipped with a thrombin-coated PPS. Needle configuration and biopsy site were randomized. Blood loss associated with each needle configuration was measured and compared with that associated with the other configurations. Venopirin caused a statistically significant increase in blood loss with all needle configurations. The PPS significantly reduced blood loss in both the control pigs and those treated with venopirin (P < .05); thrombin coating was a statistically significant factor only in the venopirin-treated pigs.