Efficacy of chitosan powder in reducing vaginal bleeding following a loop electrosurgical excision procedure: A randomized control trial.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of topical chitosan powder in reducing postoperative vaginal bleeding following a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).

METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, patients who underwent LEEP were randomly assigned (1:1) to the chitosan group, in which the wound area was sprayed with chitosan powder using a spray pump, or the control group. The primary outcome was the median quantity of vaginal blood lost in the early postoperative period (defined as within 6 h of the procedure).

RESULTS

The 124 women enrolled in the study were randomly divided into control (n = 61) and chitosan (n = 63) groups. The median amount of vaginal blood loss during the early postoperative period was significantly lower in the chitosan group than in the control group (198.85 [64.4-388.57] mL vs. 250.60 [67.7-552.87] mL; P < 0.001). The rate of late postoperative bleeding requiring hemostatic intervention was also lower in the chitosan group than in the control group (3.2% vs. 16.4%; P = 0.013). Superior cervical wound healing in the chitosan group compared to the control group was also observed.

CONCLUSION

The application of chitosan powder to the cervical wound bed can improve surgical outcomes by decreasing post-LEEP vaginal bleeding and facilitating the healing of cervical wounds.