Can you cauterize a wound

Infection is a real danger with cauterization, so make sure you clean the wound afterward as best as you can. If you have any alcohol at all, bite that stick again and douse the closed wound. Then take a long pull from the bottle yourself—you earned it! Puncture wounds will seal up quickly and easily. Long gashes and cuts will be a little trickier and you may have to work on the wound in sections, reheating your metal in between. If this is the case, start with the part that seems to be bleeding the most and work your way out from there.

Sign In Create Account. This story is over 5 years old. How and When to Cauterize a Wound. July 11, , pm. Without destruction of a portion of the hypergranulation tissue, reepithelialization cannot occur across the wound. For epithelialization to occur, the epithelial cells from one side of the wound must have contact with the other side of the wound.

If granulation tissue is mounded between these two edges of the epithelial cells, they will not cross and contact achieving closure of the wound. Silver nitrate as is seen on the end of this applicator, is commonly used to destroy a portion of the hypergranulation and allow successful wound healing and closure of blood vessels.

Silver nitrate is applied after being prescribed by a licensed physician. It is then applied to the area of hypergranulation as being demonstrated here. The silver nitrate is this portion that you see on the tip of the applicator. It can be applied to the area of hypergranulation by rolling the applicator throughout the course of it.

You will see that as it is applied, the tissue starts to turn gray to black. Once the silver nitrate and potassium nitrate stick has been applied, a wound dressing can then be applied over the wound. The application of silver nitrate as a chemical caustic cauterization agent for treatment of hypergranulation may be required on more than one occasion. Skip to content.

Japa Volchok, DO This is a demonstration of a wound care physician using silver nitrate as a chemical cauterization agent to achieve hemostasis in a wound and to decrease hypergranulation tissue in a wound.

Silver nitrate Chemical cauterization for hemostasis or treatment of hypergranulation tissue is commonly performed with a prescription medication drug known as silver nitrate. Hypergranulation Treatment Hypergranulation commonly occurs in a wound such as this. FAQs What chemical is used to cauterize? Silver nitrate is an inorganic chemical that is often used to cauterize wounds and skin tags. It is available as a solution or an applicator stick. However, silver nitrate sticks containing silver nitrate and potassium nitrate are generally preferred for chemical cauterization.

How does chemical cauterization work? Note that the fire will also help to disinfect the surface of the knife. Disinfect your wound area, if possible. If your wound is bleeding enough to warrant cauterization, it may be difficult to disinfect.

A shallow wound can be cleaned with soap and water or saline solution. If the wound is too deep, dab the area around it with a clean cloth, cotton ball, or piece of gauze doused with rubbing alcohol or iodine. Find a source of fire. Examine your surroundings to see if you have access to an open flame. You will need to have this flame burning for several minutes to adequately prepare your knife for cauterizing. A bonfire or stove burner are good options. Heat the metal until it is almost red.

Place your knife or tool over the open flame to heat it. Let it heat for as long as it takes to reach a dull red glow. Do not continue heating past the point that you see a hint of red. Find something to bite down on. Cauterization will be extremely painful and jarring, so it is best to prepare yourself. Find something clean to bite down on like a rolled up washcloth.

Avoid biting down on anything that you might break with your teeth, like a pencil or popsicle stick. Apply the knife to the wound area in small bursts. Avoid leaving the heated surface of the knife on your skin for too long as it will burn into your healthy skin tissue.

Apply the knife to the wound surface in short bursts of 1 to 2 seconds each. As soon as you see no more bleeding, assume that the wound is closed and stop cauterizing it. Cauterizing causes the coagulation of blood, which in turn stops bleeding. Cauterization should be done quickly, so there should be no need to re-heat the knife during the process. Clean the closed wound. Infection is a great risk of cauterization as second and third-degree burns can leave the body susceptible to germs.

After sealing the wound, douse it with rubbing alcohol if you have it. Keep in mind that this should only be done in emergency situations. Rubbing alcohol is not generally used to clean wounds and can actually slow the healing process. However, it can be used to clean a wound in this scenario. See a doctor as soon as possible.

While cauterization may be the best option in an emergency situation, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Go to an emergency room or walk-in clinic as soon as you can to have your wound inspected and treated properly. During the process, a medical professional will dip a small, pointed wooden stick into one of these chemicals. This will destroy the skin on contact. This will promote proper wound healing and prevent complications.

Cauterization is not the first choice of treatment. In most cases, the following methods will be used to close wounds before cauterization is considered:. After your wound has been cauterized, be sure to take care of it. Avoid picking at your scab or stretching the area. If you notice signs of infection, such as increasing pain or pus, contact a doctor. Electrocauterization is a routine surgical procedure that uses electricity to heat the body tissue.

When your skin gets cut or scraped, you begin to bleed. Bleeding serves a useful purpose because it helps to clean out a wound. But too much bleeding…. Find out what to do in case of hemorrhage, or bleeding. Discover how to recognize a medical emergency, the complications, and more. Are you interested in body branding? You're not alone.