II. Indications

  1. Hemostatic agent for small wounds

III. Mechanism

  1. Topical Hemostatic Agent
  2. Silver Nitrate sticks applied to small bleeding sites release silver that binds tissue Proteins
  3. Bound Protein precipitates into a black eschar that obstructs small blood vessels

IV. Technique

  1. Clean bleeding site and apply local pressure
  2. Apply Silver Nitrate stick to bleeding site

V. Adverse Effects

  1. Exercise care to avoid Tattooing (e.g. on face) and to avoid local spread and damage to adjacent tissue

VI. References

  1. Berry in Schrage (2013) Topical Hemostatic Agents, Medscape Emedicine
  2. Peralta in Sanfrey (2013) Overview of Topical Hemostatic Agents and tissues adhesives used in the operating room, UpToDate, Wolters-Kluwer
  3. Achneck (2010) Ann Surg 251(2):217-28 [PubMed]

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