Category
Hemostasis
Typical Use
Promote clotting at bleeding surfaces.
Description
Materials such as oxidized regenerated cellulose, gelatin sponges, collagen, or thrombin based products applied directly to bleeding surfaces to promote clot formation and control capillary or oozing hemorrhage when conventional ligation is impractical. Topical hemostatic agents are used in surgical fields, trauma care, and endoscopic procedures to achieve rapid hemostasis and reduce transfusion needs, and selection depends on bleeding severity, tissue type, and potential for infection. Proper application technique, awareness of product specific contraindications, and removal of excess material when indicated are important to avoid foreign body reactions or interference with healing. These agents complement mechanical hemostasis and electrosurgery but do not replace definitive vessel control when required.