Styptic pencil
Encyclopedia
An antihemorrhagic agent is a substance that promotes hemostasis
(stops bleeding
). It may also be known as a hemostatic (also spelled haemostatic) agent.
Styptics (also spelled stiptics) are a specific type of antihemorrhagic agent that work by contracting tissue
to seal injured blood vessels. Styptic pencils contain astringents.
Antihemorrhagic agents used in medicine have various mechanisms of action:
, fibrinogen
, and blood coagulation factors.
, especially in military medicine
. They are available in two forms - as a granular powder poured on wounds, or embedded in a dressing
.
hemostat (MCH) is a topical agent composed of resorbable microfibrillar collagen. It attracts platelets and allows for the formation of a blood clot when it comes into contact with blood. Unlike the hemostatic clamp, no mechanical action is involved. The surgeon presses the MCH against a bleeding site, and the collagen attracts and helps with the clotting process to eventually stop bleeding.
The practical application for MCH is different from that of the hemostatic clamp.
hemostats are topical agents composed of chitosan and its salts. Chitosan bonds with platelets and red blood cells to form a gel-like clot which seals a bleeding vessel. Unlike other hemostat technologies its action does not require the normal hemostatic pathway and therefore continues to function even when anticoagulants like heparin are present.
Chitosan is used in some emergency hemostats which are designed to stop traumatic life-threatening bleeding. Their use is well established in many military and trauma units.
, for example is used in QuikClot, a dressing.
A styptic or hemostatic pencil (not to be confused with a caustic pencil
) is a short stick of medication
, usually anhydrous
aluminum sulfate
, potassium alum
(both are types of alum
) or titanium dioxide
which is used for stanching blood
by causing blood vessels to contract at the site of the wound. Before safety razor
s were invented, it was an essential part of a shaving kit and was used to seal cuts caused by improper shaving
. Some people continue to use styptic pencils for minor skin wounds from safety or electric razors.
A similar substance, styptic powder, is used to stop bleeding from nails that are clipped too closely. This powder is generally used on animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits
, and birds, where the vein is found in the center of the nail.
According to Boston Poison Control Hotline (July 26, 2011) Kwik-Stop Styptik Powder for pets is safe for humans to use though it is different from styptik pencils used for people (which do not contain Benzocaine
).
Hemostasis
Hemostasis or haemostasis is a process which causes bleeding to stop, meaning to keep blood within a damaged blood vessel . Most of the time this includes blood changing from a liquid to a solid state. Intact blood vessels are central to moderating blood's tendency to clot...
(stops bleeding
Bleeding
Bleeding, technically known as hemorrhaging or haemorrhaging is the loss of blood or blood escape from the circulatory system...
). It may also be known as a hemostatic (also spelled haemostatic) agent.
Styptics (also spelled stiptics) are a specific type of antihemorrhagic agent that work by contracting tissue
Tissue (biology)
Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
to seal injured blood vessels. Styptic pencils contain astringents.
Antihemorrhagic agents used in medicine have various mechanisms of action:
- Systemic drugs work by inhibiting fibrinolysisFibrinolysisFibrinolysis is a process that prevents blood clots from growing and becoming problematic. This process has two types: primary fibrinolysis and secondary fibrinolysis...
or promoting coagulationCoagulationCoagulation is a complex process by which blood forms clots. It is an important part of hemostasis, the cessation of blood loss from a damaged vessel, wherein a damaged blood vessel wall is covered by a platelet and fibrin-containing clot to stop bleeding and begin repair of the damaged vessel...
. - Locally-acting hemostatic agents work by causing vasoconstrictionVasoconstrictionVasoconstriction is the narrowing of the blood vessels resulting from contraction of the muscular wall of the vessels, particularly the large arteries, small arterioles and veins. The process is the opposite of vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels. The process is particularly important in...
or promoting platelet aggregation.
Systemic
There are several classes of antihemorrhagic drugs used in medicine. These include antifibrinolytics, vitamin KVitamin K
Vitamin K is a group of structurally similar, fat soluble vitamins that are needed for the posttranslational modification of certain proteins required for blood coagulation and in metabolic pathways in bone and other tissue. They are 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives...
, fibrinogen
Fibrinogen
Fibrinogen is a soluble plasma glycoprotein, synthesised by the liver, that is converted by thrombin into fibrin during blood coagulation. This is achieved through processes in the coagulation cascade that activate the zymogen prothrombin to the serine protease thrombin, which is responsible for...
, and blood coagulation factors.
Local
Topical hemostatic agents have been gaining popularity for use in emergency bleeding controlEmergency bleeding control
Emergency bleeding control describes the steps or actions taken to control bleeding from a patient who has suffered a traumatic injury or who has a medical condition which has led to bleeding...
, especially in military medicine
Military medicine
The term military medicine has a number of potential connotations. It may mean:*A medical specialty, specifically a branch of occupational medicine attending to the medical risks and needs of soldiers, sailors and other service members...
. They are available in two forms - as a granular powder poured on wounds, or embedded in a dressing
Dressing (medical)
A dressing is an adjunct used by a person for application to a wound to promote healing and/or prevent further harm. A dressing is designed to be in direct contact with the wound, which makes it different from a bandage, which is primarily used to hold a dressing in place...
.
Microfibrillar collagen
Microfibrillar collagenCollagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
hemostat (MCH) is a topical agent composed of resorbable microfibrillar collagen. It attracts platelets and allows for the formation of a blood clot when it comes into contact with blood. Unlike the hemostatic clamp, no mechanical action is involved. The surgeon presses the MCH against a bleeding site, and the collagen attracts and helps with the clotting process to eventually stop bleeding.
The practical application for MCH is different from that of the hemostatic clamp.
Chitosan
ChitosanChitosan
Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed β--linked D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine...
hemostats are topical agents composed of chitosan and its salts. Chitosan bonds with platelets and red blood cells to form a gel-like clot which seals a bleeding vessel. Unlike other hemostat technologies its action does not require the normal hemostatic pathway and therefore continues to function even when anticoagulants like heparin are present.
Chitosan is used in some emergency hemostats which are designed to stop traumatic life-threatening bleeding. Their use is well established in many military and trauma units.
Chemical
Hemostatic chemicals use Chitosan in commercial products such as roll gauzes, and granular powders. ZeoliteZeolite
Zeolites are microporous, aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial adsorbents. The term zeolite was originally coined in 1756 by Swedish mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, who observed that upon rapidly heating the material stilbite, it produced large amounts of steam from water that...
, for example is used in QuikClot, a dressing.
Styptics
Caustic pencil
A caustic pencil is a short stick of medication usually containing silver nitrate, used to cauterize skin, for instance for the removal of warts, or moles. They are not used as a treatment for minor cuts...
) is a short stick of medication
Medication
A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
, usually anhydrous
Anhydrous
As a general term, a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no water. The way of achieving the anhydrous form differs from one substance to another...
aluminum sulfate
Aluminium sulfate
Aluminium sulfate, alternatively spelt aluminum sulfate, aluminium sulphate, or aluminum sulphate; is a chemical compound with the formula Al23...
, potassium alum
Potassium alum
Potassium alum, potash alum or tawas is the potassium double sulfate of aluminium. Its chemical formula is KAl2 and it is commonly found in its dodecahydrate form as KAl2·12. Alum is the common name for this chemical compound, given the nomenclature of potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate...
(both are types of alum
Alum
Alum is both a specific chemical compound and a class of chemical compounds. The specific compound is the hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate with the formula KAl2.12H2O. The wider class of compounds known as alums have the related empirical formula, AB2.12H2O.-Chemical properties:Alums are...
) or titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, chemical formula . When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6, or CI 77891. Generally it comes in two different forms, rutile and anatase. It has a wide range of...
which is used for stanching blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
by causing blood vessels to contract at the site of the wound. Before safety razor
Safety razor
A safety razor is a razor that protects the skin from all but the very edge of the blade. These razors reduce the possibility of serious injury, which makes them more forgiving than a straight razor.-Cartridges introduced:...
s were invented, it was an essential part of a shaving kit and was used to seal cuts caused by improper shaving
Shaving
Shaving is the removal of hair, by using a razor or any other kind of bladed implement, to slice it down to the level of the skin. Shaving is most commonly practiced by men to remove their facial hair and by women to remove their leg and underarm hair...
. Some people continue to use styptic pencils for minor skin wounds from safety or electric razors.
A similar substance, styptic powder, is used to stop bleeding from nails that are clipped too closely. This powder is generally used on animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits
House rabbit
A house rabbit is a pet domestic rabbit kept for companionship that lives inside its owner's home. House rabbits can be trained to use a litter box, and can live as long as 8-10 years when properly cared for....
, and birds, where the vein is found in the center of the nail.
According to Boston Poison Control Hotline (July 26, 2011) Kwik-Stop Styptik Powder for pets is safe for humans to use though it is different from styptik pencils used for people (which do not contain Benzocaine
Benzocaine
Benzocaine is a local anesthetic commonly used as a topical pain reliever, or in cough drops. It is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter anesthetic ointments...
).
See also
- ATC code B02ATC code B02-B02AA Amino acids:-B02AA Amino acids:-B02AA Amino acids::B02AA01 Aminocaproic acid:B02AA02 Tranexamic acid:B02AA03 Aminomethylbenzoic acid-B02AB Proteinase inhibitors::B02AB01 Aprotinin:B02AB02 Alfa1 antitrypsin:B02AB03 C1-inhibitor:B02AB04 Camostat...
– Antihemorrhagics - Hemostatic clampHemostatA hemostat , is a vital surgical tool used in almost any surgical procedure, usually to control bleeding. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see the initial incision lined with hemostats closing blood vessels awaiting ligation during the initial phases of surgery...
- ZeoliteZeoliteZeolites are microporous, aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial adsorbents. The term zeolite was originally coined in 1756 by Swedish mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, who observed that upon rapidly heating the material stilbite, it produced large amounts of steam from water that...
- Phytoremediation, HyperaccumulatorsPhytoremediation, HyperaccumulatorsThis article covers known hyperaccumulators, accumulators or species tolerant to the following: Aluminium , Silver , Arsenic , Beryllium , Chromium , Copper , Manganese , Mercury , Molybdenum , Naphthalene, Lead , Palladium , Platinum , Selenium et Zinc .See also:*Hyperaccumulators table – 2 :...