TL;DR
Hemostasis: Stopping bleeding during surgery through mechanical (clamping, ligation), thermal (electrosurgery), and chemical (topical agents) methods.
Hemostasis
Definition
Stopping bleeding during surgery through mechanical (clamping, ligation), thermal (electrosurgery), and chemical (topical agents) methods.
Methods
- Mechanical: direct pressure, clamping, ligation, clips, bone wax, tourniquets
- Thermal: monopolar/bipolar electrosurgery, harmonic scalpel, argon beam, laser
- Chemical: topical thrombin, Gelfoam, Surgicel, Avitene, tranexamic acid
Electrosurgery
Monopolar: current through patient to return pad, wide effect. Bipolar: current between forceps tines only, limited effect for delicate structures.
Harmonic scalpel uses ultrasonic vibration (55,500 Hz) to cut and coagulate with less thermal spread.
Hemostatic Agents
Gelfoam: absorbs blood, matrix for clotting. Surgicel: hemostasis, gradually absorbed. Thrombin: topical only—NEVER inject (causes fatal intravascular coagulation). Bone wax: controls bone surface bleeding.
Why It Matters
Core CST exam topic. Also tested on EMT and Paramedic exams for hemorrhage control.
Related Terms
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