II. Background

  1. Derived from Chitin is shellfish exoskeletons

III. Mechanism

  1. Topical Hemostatic Agent
  2. Local Vasoconstriction
  3. Mobilizes Clotting Factors and Platelets
  4. Mechanical sealing

IV. Efficacy

  1. Stops bleeding in 97% of wounds not stopped with direct pressure
  2. However, bleeding restarts within 1 hour in up to 70% of cases (and nearly all arterial Hemorrhage)

V. References

  1. Kheirabadi (2011) US Army Med Dep J p. 25-37
  2. Swaminathan and van de Leuv (2013) Crit Dec in Emerg Med 27(8): 11-17

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Ontology: Chitin (C0008141)

Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A type of polysaccharide (sugar molecule) that is made by some plants and animals. The hard outer shell of shrimp, lobsters, and many insects is made of chitin.
Definition (MSH) A linear polysaccharide of beta-1->4 linked units of ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE. It is the second most abundant biopolymer on earth, found especially in INSECTS and FUNGI. When deacetylated it is called CHITOSAN.
Definition (CSP) tough, white polysaccharide of acetylglucosamine found in arthropod shells and elsewhere; the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, after cellulose.
Concepts Biologically Active Substance (T123) , Carbohydrate (T118)
MSH D002686
English Chitin, Chitin [Chemical/Ingredient], chitin
Swedish Kitin
Czech chitin
Finnish Kitiini
Russian KHITIN, ХИТИН
Polish Chityna
French Chitine
German Chitin
Italian Chitina
Portuguese Quitina
Spanish Quitina

Ontology: Chitosan (C0162969)

Definition (MSH) Deacetylated CHITIN, a linear polysaccharide of deacetylated beta-1,4-D-glucosamine. It is used in HYDROGEL and to treat WOUNDS.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Carbohydrate (T118)
MSH D048271
English CHITOSAN @ @ UNIDENTIFIED, CHITOSAN UNIDENTIFIED, Chitosan [Chemical/Ingredient], CHITOSAN, chitosans, chitosan, Chitosan, Poliglusam
Swedish Kitosan
Czech chitosan
Finnish Kitosaani
Russian KHITOZAN, ХИТОЗАН
Japanese キトサン, ポリグルサム
Italian Poliglusam, Chitosano
Polish Chitosan
Spanish Quitosano, Quitosana, Chitosán, Quitosán
Portuguese Quitosano, Quitosana
French Chitosane, Chitosan, Polymères de chitine désacétylée
German Chitosan, Poliglusam