Hemospray highly effective for controlling GI bleeding, but not suited for long-term use

A recently approved hemostatic powder, Hemospray, has demonstrated robust effectiveness in achieving immediate hemostasis in gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, reports a study.

However, Hemospray is not suited for definitive long-term therapy because of its significantly high rebleeding rates.

The investigators conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the clinical performance of Hemospray in the management of GI bleeding. Multiple databases were searched from inception through March 2019 to identify studies reporting on the clinical outcomes of Hemospray in GI bleeding.

Nineteen studies including a total of 814 patients were identified. Of the patients, 212 were treated with Hemospray as monotherapy and 602 with Hemospray and conventional hemostatic techniques.

Overall pooled clinical success, the primary outcome, after the application of Hemospray was 92 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 87–96; I², 70.4 percent). The secondary outcome of pooled early rebleeding rate after application of Hemospray was 20 percent (95 percent CI, 16–26; I², 54 percent), while the overall pooled delayed rebleeding rate was 23 percent (95 percent CI, 16–31; I², 34.9 percent).

No statistical difference was noted in clinical success (relative risk [RR], 1.02, 95 percent CI, 0.96–1.08; p=0.34) and early rebleeding (RR, 0.89, 95 percent CI, 0.75–1.07; p=0.214) in studies that compared the use of Hemospray as monotherapy relative to combination therapy with conventional treatment.

“Hemospray is a new hemostatic powder recently approved for endoscopic hemostasis in GI bleeding,” the investigators said.