Control of Junctional Hemorrhage in a Consensus Swine Model With Hemostatic Gauze Products Following Minimal Training.

OBJECTIVE: Uncontrolled hemorrhage from junctional wounds that cannot be controlled by traditional tourniquets accounts for one in five preventable battlefield exsanguination deaths. Products for treating these wounds are costly and require special training. However, chemically treated gauze products are inexpensive, potentially effective, and require only minimal training. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of three hemostatic gauze products following brief training, using a consensus swine groin injury model.

METHODS: After viewing a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation, without demonstration or practice, 24 U.S. Navy Corpsmen, most with little to no live tissue or hemostatic agent experience, applied one of three hemostatic agents: QuikClot Combat Gauze, Celox Trauma Gauze, or Hemcon ChitoGauze. Animals were resuscitated and monitored for 150 minutes to assess initial hemostasis, blood loss, rebleeding, and survival. Participants completed a survey before training and following testing.

RESULTS: Products were similar in initial hemostasis, blood loss, and rebleeding. Twenty-three swine survived (96%). Ease of use and perceived efficacy of training ratings were high. Comfort level with application improved following training.

CONCLUSIONS: Hemostatic gauze can potentially be effective for treating junctional wounds following minimal training, which has important implications for corpsmen, self-aid/buddy-aid, civilian providers, and Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines.