OPTION 3

•            Junctional wounds are those wounds of the neck, axilla (armpit), and groin, where they are not amenable to tourniquet application but are frequent sources of massive hemorrhage.

•            There are many different ways to manage these wounds, this is one technique using a Foley Catheter (designed for urine drainage) to tamponade bleeding.

•            It is best studied in neck wounds.

•            First, a foley catheter is inserted to the point of bleeding.

•            Next, using a syringe filled with saline, the balloon is then inflated and the inflation of the balloon within the wound puts pressure directly on the bleeding vasculature.

•            Once the balloon is inflated and bleeding is stopped, the catheter must be tied off to avoid leakage and a lessening of the direct pressure on the wound.

 

Key Concept

Nasopharyngeal airway - To maintain patent airway

Nasogastric tube - For drainage of stomach

Ryle’s tube - For patient feeding

Foley’s catheter - To stop nasal bleeding