Haemostatic spray for treatment of nonvariceal upper GI bleeds

Cook Medical has chosen the annual meeting of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) to introduce an innovative endoscopic spray for use in nonvariceal bleeds in the upper GI tract to the UK market. Hemospray, which has undergone a clinical study and multiple evaluations[1], expands Cook Medical’s current line of haemostasis devices, achieving haemostasis with a proprietary inorganic powder.

 

It is now available to clinicians in the United Kingdom, where acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common, potentially life threatening emergency, associated with over 4,000 deaths a year.[2]

 

Hemospray is a single-use device, delivered through the channel of an endoscope and sprayed toward the source of a bleed. When the powder comes in contact with blood, it absorbs water and forms a gel, which acts both cohesively and adhesively to create a stable mechanical barrier that adheres to and covers the bleeding site. It is a nonthermal, nontraumatic treatment modality for achieving haemostasis.

 

“Hemospray is an important and new therapy, which offers an additional treatment option for patients who suffer from bleeding lesions in the upper GI tract,” said Dr. John Morris, consultant gastroenterologist at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary Hospital.

 

Current haemostats therapies rely on thermal, mechanical or injection devices. These devices carry risks of damage to the surrounding tissue and also require that the device be precisely placed on the bleeding vessel. Hemospray is designed to minimise the risks associated with current therapies and without the precision required of other treatment modalities.

 

“Because these bleeds can be complicated, no treatment option represents the perfect solution, even Hemospray,” said Barry Slowey, vice president and global business leader for Cook Medical’s Endoscopy division. “However, we do feel that this new device gives clinicians another important tool for the care of their patients.”

 

A study conducted by lead investigators Prof. Joseph Sung and Dr. Sam Giday at the Chinese University of Hong Kong showed that Hemospray achieves acute haemostasis in peptic ulcers.[3] Further clinical studies are currently being conducted with Hemospray across multiple sites in Canada, Europe, and Hong Kong. The results of these studies will be available in the coming months.