Thrombostatic Agents and Tissue Adhesives in the Emergency Department: Stopping the Bleeding, Closing the Wound, and Novel Applications

Complaints of bleeding are frequent presentations to the emergency department, and although most bleeding can be controlled with direct pressure, increased use of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants complicates what might be otherwise simple bleeding. Industry has met the demand for hemostatic adjuncts, and a number of products are available for the emergency physician to assist in hemostatic control and wound closure. This chapter will cover the various available technolo-gies, covering their preferred use and discussing particular bleeding scenarios and which technology may be best for each scenario.