ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Medica 2018 August;109(4):266-75

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.18.05642-2

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Assessment of a topical product based on a mixture of polysulfated galactosaminoglycan in the topical treatment of postoperative blood extravasation (ecchymosis-hematoma) in phlebology

Marcello IZZO ^{1, 2} ✉, Vincenzo COSCIA ^{1, 3}

¹ "Mathematics for Technology, Medicine and Biosciences" Research Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; ² Compression Therapy Study Group (CTG), Genoa, Italy; ³ Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

BACKGROUND: The onset of bruising in surgery is a frequent event that can be a source of complications and delays in the patient’s healing process (pigmentations, fibrosis, etc.). Having the help of an effective topical product that speeds up the resorption of blood extravasation can be an advantage in phlebological surgery and surgery in general.
METHODS: Twenty-three patients both male and female (age range: 30-72 years) were enrolled. Twenty-two of them completed the study, all underwent venous surgery of the lower extremities (invagination stripping of the internal or external saphenous and Muller’s ambulatory phlebectomy). The 22 patients were divided into 2 groups of 11 each and in a single blind study received topical daily therapy (every 12 hours) either in the form of a medication cream (active ingredient), or a placebo cream. All patients wore compression one-leg tights immediately after surgery, following measurement of the lower limb (Struva® 35 mmHg, Medi Italia, Zola Predosa, Bologna, Italy). The 30-day observational study was carried out using a standard photographic survey procedure.
RESULTS: The topical application of polysulfated galactosaminoglycan showed a significantly higher rate of resorption of blood extravasations than in patients in the single blind study receiving topical therapy with the placebo (Fisher’s Exact Test, dichotomous variable outcome, N.=22, with result P=0.0001<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Topical therapy with a mixture of polysulfated galactosaminoglycans provides valid protection in the therapy of blood extravasations in phlebology and general surgery.

KEY WORDS: Ecchymosis - Hematoma - Hemorrhage - Heme - Galactosaminoglycans