Why Use Hemostatic Agents?

These agents use two mechanisms to produce hemostasis: physically adhering to damaged tissues and sealing injured vessels to prevent further blood loss, and accelerating and strengthening the blood clotting present in the wound by incorporating into the developing clot and producing hemostasis.

When should hemostatic agents be used?

A panel of experts in prehospital trauma care convened by the American College of Surgeons recently recommended the prehospital use of topical hemostatic agents in conjunction with direct pressure for controlling hemorrhage in injuries where direct pressure alone is ineffective or not practical and in cases where ...

What is the purpose of a hemostatic dressing?

Hemostatic dressings are a valuable adjunct in external hemorrhage control when the source of bleeding is a location not amenable to tourniquet placement, such as in junctional regions (ie, neck, axilla, and groin).