J Emerg Med
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The HemCon Bandage (HemCon Medical Technologies Inc., Portland, OR) is a hemostatic dressing made of chitosan, a complex carbohydrate derived from chitin. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the HemCon Bandage in a civilian emergency medical services system. The HemCon Bandage was added to the trauma kits of a fire agency and data were collected from June 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006. ⋯ The HemCon Bandage failed to stop bleeding within 10 min in 7 cases. User error was a factor in 6 of the 7 failures. The HemCon Bandage is an effective adjunct for uncontrolled external hemorrhage when traditional measures, such as pressure and gauze dressings, fail.
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Internal jugular vein thrombosis is an uncommon entity with high morbidity and an increased risk of mortality. Spontaneous clotting of the internal jugular vein without any known risk factors is virtually unheard of, and intravenous drug use is the most common cause for thrombosis. ⋯ We present the case of a patient who, after in vitro fertilization, developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and clotted the internal jugular vein. In the setting of the Emergency Department, the norm should be to "rule out internal jugular venous thrombosis" in pregnant patients who have undergone in vitro fertilization and present with neck pain, with or without swelling or distended collaterals.