Treatment Measures for Hemostasis

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• Direct pressure with sterile gauze.

• Apply a microfibrillar collagen hemostatic agent like Avitene or Gelfoam to promote clotting by platelet adhesion, with additional pressure. See Figures 1 and 2 below. Most minor bleeding stops with these 2 mesures.

• Application of topical epinephrine 1:100,000 concentration (rarely used).

• Silver nitrate stick to a specific source. Caution: Mildly irritating and causes temporary gray-black discoloration (rarely used).

• Use an absorbable suture, 4-0 to 6-0, for a laceration (rarely needed).

If bleeding persists, consider work up for a clotting factor deficiency

In this image: Figure 1. An example of a microfibrillar collagen hemostatic agent called Avitene.

Figure 2. An example of a microfibrillar collagen hemostatic agent called Gelfoam.

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