This device, approved for military use two years ago, has just saved his first life: that of an American soldier who suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg that affected his femoral artery. After seven hours of unsuccessful operation to suture the blood vessel, the doctors used the XStat to plug the femoral cavity and thus managed to stop the bleeding before sending the military to a well-equipped hospital.
How does it work?
In a very simple way. The syringe injects dozens of small compressed sponges into the open wound that expand on contact with blood and plug the perforation. The pressure they exert stops the bleeding or reduces it in such a way that precious time is saved to transfer the affected person to a hospital in which to operate with guarantees.
The syringe / plunger has been developed by the American firm RevMedx, and this has been the first time that it has been shown to be effective in a real case. Like so many technologies, it was born for use on the battlefield, but the US government's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved its application to civilians. The FDA hopes the device will save the lives of many injured.
The XStat has a promising future: its creators are working to adapt it for use in postpartum hemorrhages, wounds greater than gunshot wounds and even those caused by bombs.
Image: RevMedx
