Hemostatic agents: a guide to safe practice for perioperative nurses.

Perioperative hemostasis, the effective management of bleeding during operative and other invasive procedures, can involve the use of blood, blood products, and hemostatic agents to augment the patient's natural clotting abilities. Currently, more than 50 hemostatic products are available in the marketplace and dozens more are in development. It is important for perioperative nurses to understand each of the hemostatic agent categories and their actions, properties, applications, and limitations. This article provides an overview of the normal coagulation process (ie, clotting cascade) that is activated by the body when there is a bleeding episode; the management of blood products and the rationale for reducing their use; the financial implications of hemostatic agent use; and how these agents are used, their clinical indications, and potential complications from their use.