Biotextiles as medical implants

Hemorrhage is uncontrolled bleeding from a wound. Various studies indicate that hemorrhage is a major cause of ‘potentially preventable’ deaths in combat as well as civilian trauma. New methods and products for hemorrhage control are therefore a research priority to avoid potentially survivable deaths. A better understanding of the correlation between surface properties and their hemostatic potential (i.e. ability to form a blood clot) would result in an effective hemostatic wound dressing. This chapter describes the blood clotting mechanism and the effect of foreign surfaces on the coagulation cascade. Finally, a review of the various approaches to develop an ideal hemostatic material is presented.