SPTP for UGIB was prepared using previously described methods
11 (link)
. CaCO
3microparticles (3 µm, American Elements, Los Angeles, California, United States) were loaded with human α-thrombin (Haematologic Technologies, Essex Junction, Vermont, United States) and excipients in 6.75-mL cold glycine-buffered solution. The suspension was frozen by liquid nitrogen and lyophilized at –40 ⁰C and < 50 mTorr until dried. The dried CaCO
3/thrombin powder particles were adjusted to diameters < 100 µm and mixed mechanically with a proprietary organic acid ground to the same particle size. SPTP was prepared with thrombin concentrations ranging from 333 NIH units/g to 1000 NIH units/g. A total of 15 g of powder was loaded into the spray device and was available for each bleed. The actual dose of thrombin delivered, and the actual amount of powder used are reported in
