QuikClot Combat Gauze

Submitted by Eric Daniel

I just saw that the Army named this product one of the “Top Ten Greatest Inventions of 2008.”Now, I know that there were a number of these rapid clotting products fielded, but I thought most, if not all, of them were recalled because they were a bit exothermic in their operation, or that they caused blood clots to form internally.  Apparently, though, this one is still out there.

Well my question to you all is, have any of you seen this or used it?  As a Guardsman in a non-enhanced readiness unit, I’ll see these things right about the time the regular army transitions to robot warriors, but I’m curious if any of you active duty types have encountered either this (which appears to be a kaolin impregnated gauze bandage) or the other product offered, QuikClot, which appears to be a powder (like the sulfa powder of old) that you apply directly to the wound.

In the blurb I read, the combat gauze is described as being inexpensive and easy to use (civilian prices for this range from $30- $50 so clearly the Army has a somewhat corporate concept of what constitutes “inexpensive”) and I was just curious if anyone had ever actually used it (the SF folks we worked with had something similar I believe, though I don’t think it was QC) and whether it was worth trying to trick my supply SGT into getting some.

In an interesting aside, it seems there’s some discrepancy as to who invented this stuff.  According to the Army, it was invented by  the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, while Z-Medica Corporation insists it invented it.  I wonder if these are two different products with the same name or if they’re debating about what the definition of “invented” is.

Check out QuikClot Combat Gauze here.

Comments

[Tahoe]

Eric, I'm not an SME so someone else can chime in on technical details. QuikClot products are as you described, and do have some issues with heat generation. There are also HemCon and other chitosan-based hemostatic agents issued which don't have the same heat issue (but are more expensive to civilians). All these are fantastic bleeding stoppers and if you aren't issued some, pick a couple up yourself--you never know.

[eriko]

If I remember correctly after the heat issues came up the Quik-Clot people did some testing and realized the the bentonite clay that they were using as a carrier for the active ingredient was just as effective by it's self. The new formulation does not have heat issues.

[von Krag]

I've seen a quick klot used on a farm accident in Blue Earth MN. I don't think the result of the 1st aid given would have been as successful with out it. I've added them to my kit despite their being a bit spendy.

[Sonnydays15]

Hi there, USAF doc here with some experience, not much. The combat gauze is terrific, and will hopefully be replacing anything else for traumatic injury. You use it just like any other dressing, it just works better. The Quikclot and Hemecon are better than the dressing for controlling bleeding, but are designed mostly for places you can't put a dressing. Femoral, armpit, groin wounds. Things you can make a 'pit' out of the wound and pour the powder in. Then you need to pack the powder in until the clotting stops. Quiklot has a LOT of heat issues, which is why we're trying to switch to the new one. Medics HAVE to be trained and practiced in its use. When it was first introduced, they sprinkled it over the wound like it was fairy dust, because no one had told them how to use it. The first someone uses it properly, they usually fail, because they pull their hands away or don't pack tightly enough when the stuff eventually starts to burn their hands as well as burn the patient. The new stuff still heats up, but doesn't burn nearly as much. I would get your doc or command to get some to practice with (both the old Quicklot and new Hemecon) and some for yourself if you deploy.

As for who invented it, the Army invented the concept of something like it to stop bleeding, the companies came up with the mixture and patented it.t

[George Seemann]

My name is George I am a retired Special Operations Medic with 27 years experience in combat and pre hospital medical care. I am currently employed by Combat Medical Systems. We distribute Combat Gauze to the military. Although Combat Gauze is made by the same people who made granular QuikClot, it is a completely different product, made with new Kaolin technology which produces zero heat.
Kaolin is an inert mineral. It is not made from shrimp shells, sea weed, or any biological/botanical agents. and comes in a Z-folded gauze pack which can be easily packed into a wound just like Kerlix. Combat Gauze is also the only TCCC recognized hemostatic agent approved for DOD wide use. For any questions check out the web site at http://www.health.mil/Pages/Page.aspx?ID=34 where you can find the entire TCCC training, including the Combat Gauze training video and power points the military uses.

[Eric Daniel]

George, good to know and thanks for the information. I'll take a look at the training materials you mentioned, but would I be correct in saying that the combat gauze is more intended as a packing material than as a dressing wrapper? I would think that the kaolin would be wasted when used as a wrap over another dressing.

[Spanish PJ]

I am a PJ serving with an Allied Air Force SOF unit. We use Combat Gauze as the hemostatic agent of choice. This will get into wounds not amenable to tourniquet use, where pouring granules of Quik Clot is out of the question (severed artery is too deep for the granules to be effectively deployed) and will stop the most severe bleeding. Seen it work in Afganistan and no exotermic reaction at all. All you need to remember is to (a) pack as much combat gauze as possible inside the wound, as close as possible to the bleeding source, (b) apply 3 minutes direct pressure, (c) apply more gauze if one is not enough.