Introduction
Hemostasis, or blood coagulation, is a highly complex process that the body applies to open internal or external wounds in order to keep the loss of blood from an injury to a minimum. In the case of a bleeding wound, various measures can be taken to support the body’s natural haemostasis in order to accelerate the process and keep blood loss to a minimum. The first of these is the impression – for example, with a tightly applied compression bandage. Every major bleeding wound should be examined by a doctor and treated if necessary. In the case of wounds that are not only superficial, the tetanus vaccination protection must be checked and refreshed if necessary.
What are the ways to achieve hemostasis?
The most important measure to achieve hemostasis and to support the body in coagulating blood is the squeezing. Depending on the location, this can be done by applying a pressure bandage, for example: For this purpose, the wound dressing is first fixed with a compress and then, for example, another compress roll is applied and wrapped so that it exerts pressure on the bleeding. The dressing should be tight enough to stop the bleeding but not so tight that the fingers or feet turn blue due to insufficient blood flow.
If the application of a pressure bandage is not successful or not possible, pressure can also be applied to the bleeding simply with your own hand for a few minutes. Please wear gloves and cover the wound with compresses before applying pressure! Learn all about the pressure bandage and how to apply it correctly.
Another effective measure to stop bleeding is to elevate the bandage when the source of bleeding is located on an arm or leg. In the event of heavy bleeding that cannot be stopped or only insufficiently stopped by the above measures, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible or an emergency service should be called (dial 112). A common cause of bleeding without injury is also nosebleed.
Here too, the body is generally best able to stop the bleeding itself and can be supported by the simple but effective use of local pressure and gravity. For this reason one should sit upright when having a nosebleed (less pressure in the blood vessels than when lying down, for example). You should also squeeze the nostrils together for at least ten minutes without interruption.
This is often enough to stop the bleeding. The measures of hemostasis can be distinguished from the measures mentioned above, which are used in the context of a medical intervention such as an operation. Nevertheless, haemostasis here essentially follows the same principles and can be partly promoted by similar measures: For example, even in the operating theatre, smaller bleedings are often tackled by applying targeted pressure, for example with a compress on forceps.
In the case of bleeding from a severed blood vessel, it is possible to stop it by binding it with a thread (ligature). Stronger vessel stumps must be closed with a Z-shaped suture due to the higher pressure (ligature). In addition, some bleedings can be stopped by using a tissue adhesive.
This supports the blood’s natural ability to clot. The measures for stopping bleeding can be distinguished from the measures mentioned above, which are used in the context of a medical intervention such as an operation. Nevertheless, hemostasis here essentially follows the same principles and can be promoted in part by similar measures:
- For example, even in the operating theatre, smaller bleedings are often tackled by applying targeted pressure, for example with a compress on forceps.
- In the case of bleeding from a severed blood vessel, it is possible to stop it by binding it with a thread (ligature). – Stronger vessel stumps must be closed with a Z-shaped suture due to the higher pressure (ligature). – In addition, some bleedings can be stopped by using a tissue adhesive.
This supports the blood’s natural ability to clot. In general, taking impressions is the simplest but usually also the most effective measure for stopping bleeding. The targeted pressure compresses the blood vessels so that the body’s natural blood coagulation can begin more quickly and effectively.
For smaller bleedings this is usually already sufficient to stop the bleeding. In the case of more severe bleeding, for example from an open wound, the loss of blood through the pressure is kept to a minimum and medical treatment is facilitated, for example by suturing. When making the impression, care should be taken to ensure that the pressure is sufficient to stop the bleeding but not so strong that the blood flow to sloping parts of the body such as the fingers or feet is interrupted.
