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.