Topical hemostatic agents from an oral-surgery perspective

Abstract

Effective hemostasis is a major goal in any oral and maxillofacial surgical procedure. Uncontrolled hemorrhage can pose life-threatening consequences to the patient. When the conventional hemostasis methods are inadequate, the topical hemostatic agents play an important role as useful adjuncts to prevent further bleeding. Understanding the application, the mechanism of action, as well as the potential of the topical hemostatic agents, and having an insight on the limitations and undesirable effects will be useful in choosing the appropriate agent for each situation. The objective of this article is to go through some of the currently used agents, their applications, and some important points to keep in mind when utilizing these agents to manage cases with bleeding following surgical procedures in the oral and maxillofacial region.