Question

You have just been notified that the hemicolectomy (for which you are preparing the OR right now) will be delayed. Instead you are receiving an emergent exploratory laparotomy and possible splenectomy. Before the words leave your circulator’s mouth, the patient is in the OR, along with the surgeon. The patient is obviously in critical condition with several intravenous (IV) medications and blood infusing. As you set up the instrumentation, you recall the four steps required to stop bleeding in acute hemorrhage. What are they? If you had time to grab only enough instruments or supplies to fit in both of your hands, which items would they be?

Answer 1

STEPS TO STOP BLEEDING:

1.Apply direct pressure : Priority methods to control bleeding is hand-applied direct pressure application. When one bandage doesnot do the trick, add another one and push harder.It can be performed by using an appropriate pressure dressing, which involves more than simply wrapping a dressing more tighter.

2. packing the wound:

Using hemostatic agents which is different from traditional direct-pressure, dry dressings but while now different options have, the methods used now are the ones that involve either packing a wound with clot-accelerating, impregnated gauze, or directly covering wounds with a similar bandage or roll.This, combined with pressure dressings and direct pressure applied for a few minutes, can be an effective tool to help control your patient’s moderate to severe bleeding. After all, applying a tourniquet is only permitted for extremity injuries, not those affecting the head, neck or core of the body.

3.Stop circulation: The method is by stoping the bleeding by carrying tourniquent in order to stop bleeding.

4.Immobilize the injured body parts as much as possible : leave the bandages in place and shift immediately to emergency room.

The instruments or supplies are :

Electrocautery or the argon beam coagulator can quickly seal off bleeding vessels.

Haemostatic Forceps

Tourniquent

Gauze roll.