Dear Editor:
We read with great interest the study by Dr. Ran and colleagues, “QuikClot Combat Gauze Use for Hemorrhage Control in Military Trauma” published in the November—December 2010 issue of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. We also studied this product at our Trauma Center and would like to mention several salient points:
1. The effective substance in QuikClot is Kaolin. This substance activates platelet aggregation and water absorption and concentrates hemostatic factors;
2. We used QuikClot for vascular injuries in sheep and found QuikClot to be significantly more effective for decreasing vascular hemorrhaging following vascular injuries compared to chitohem
3. It is difficult to remove QuikClot from the wound after hemostasis;
4. It is ineffective in decreasing vascular hemorrhage from large vessels;
5. Long-term effects of this substance need further study (i.e., could it be carcinogenic?); and
6. The primary and perhaps, main and most beneficial use, is as a hemostatic dressing for first responder to treat a wounded combatant on the battlefield until the victim can be transported to a field hospital. It should be included in the backpacks of all soldiers, not just medics or physicians.
