Devices and methods are disclosed for achieving hemostasis in patients who
have received skin-penetrating wounds to the periphery, including the
head, arms, and legs. Such haemostatic packing devices and methods are
especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery, or military setting.
The devices utilize fluid impermeable barriers surrounded by exterior
dams and pressure to achieve tamponade and hemostasis, primarily by
exertion of force to hold the dams against the skin surrounding a wound.
The devices are capable of serving as carriers for thrombogenic,
antimicrobial or antipathogenic agents. The devices do not require the
use of adhesives to work as they are attached to the patient using
mechanical locking devices. Peripheral haemostatic packing devices
include optional adhesive hemostatic barriers to attach at least a
portion of the device to the skin or to assist with initial coupling of a
hold-down strap to another strap using a more secure mechanical lock. The
peripheral hemostatic packing system does not completely surround the
extremity having the wound and therefore do not cause a tourniquet
effect. The peripheral hemostatic packing system preferably is held
against the skin surrounding a wound by a force that is generally
unidirectional and substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the
skin of the wound resides.