Hemostasis - Hemostasis in Emergency Medicine

Hemostasis in Emergency Medicine

• Debates still continue to rise on the subject of Hemostasis and how to handle situations with large injuries. If an individual did acquire a large injury resulting in extreme blood loss, then a hemostatic agent alone would not be very effective. Medical professionals continue to debate on what the best ways to assist a patient in a chronic state are; however, it is universally accepted that hemostatic agents are the primary tool for smaller bleeding injuries.

Some main types of Hemostasis used in emergency medicine include:

• Chemical/topical- This is a topical agent often used in surgery settings to stop bleeding. Microfibriller collagen is the most popular choice among surgeons because it attracts the patients natural platelets and starts the blood clotting process when it comes in contact with the platelets. This topical agent requires normal hemostatic pathway to be properly functional.

• Direct pressure or pressure dressing- This type of Hemostasis approach is most commonly used in situations where proper medical attention is not available. Putting pressure and/or dressing to a bleeding wound only slows the process of blood loss, allowing for more time to get to an emergency medical setting. Soldiers use this skill during combat when someone has been injured because this process allows for blood loss to be decreased, giving the system time to start coagulation.

• Sutures and ties- Sutures are often used to close an open wound, allowing for the injured area to stay free of pathogens and other unwanted debris to enter the site;however, it is also essential to the process of Hemostasis. Sutures and ties allow for skin to be joined back together allowing for platelets to start the process of Hemostasis at a quicker pace. Using sutures results in a quicker recovery period because the surface area of the wound has been decreased.

• Physical agents"' ( gelatin sponge )- Gelatin sponges have been indicated as great Hemostatic devices. Once applied to a bleeding area, a gelatin sponge quickly stops or reduces the amount of bleeding present. These physical agents are mostly used in surgical settings as well as after surgery treatments. These sponges absorb blood, allow for coagulation to occur faster, and give off chemical responses that increase the time it takes for the Hemostasis pathway to start.