Method of reducing infections and/or air embolisms associated with vascular access procedures

A method of reducing infections associated with catheter installations comprising the steps of:

• inserting the catheter through a skin area into a vein or artery and forming a wound site;
• attaching a powder containment device (PCD) to the skin area, the PCD having a hole formed centrally therethrough substantially wider than a width of the catheter adapted to at least partially surround the catheter at the wound site, said hole, in combination with the skin area, defining an open cavity;
• positioning the skin area in a generally horizontal orientation;
• at least partially filling said cavity with an anhydrous hemostatic agent which includes an effective amount of a salt ferrate combined with an effective amount of an insoluble cation exchange material, said salt ferrate combining with blood to form a trivalent Fe+++ ion promoting blood clotting and producing oxygen to reduce bacteria level at the wound site, said cation exchange material forming a protective cover over the wound site as said trivalent Fe+++ ion is formed;
• applying pressure against said hemostatic agent;
• maintaining the pressure against said hemostatic agent for a time sufficient to arrest blood flow from the wound site;
• releasing the pressure and covering the PCD with a transparent or translucent adhesive dressing.

A method of reducing infections associated with vascular access procedures involving catheter insertion and removal comprising the steps of:

• positioning a skin area into a working orientation;
• pouring a quantity of an anhydrous hemostatic agent sufficient to produce an asymmetric dry/wet powder pile around a wound site made by insertion or removal of a catheter into or from a vascular member, the hemostatic agent including an effective amount of a salt ferrate combined with an effective amount of an insoluble cation exchange material, said salt ferrate combining with blood to form a trivalent Fe+++ ion promoting blood clotting and producing oxygen to reduce bacteria level at the wound site, said cation exchange material forming a protective cover over the wound site as said trivalent Fe+++ ion is formed;
• applying semi-occlusive pressure against said hemostatic agent and maintaining the pressure against said hemostatic agent for a time sufficient to arrest blood flow from the wound site;
• releasing the pressure and covering said hemostatic agent with a transparent or translucent adhesive dressing.

A method of reducing air embolisms associated with vascular access procedures involving catheter installations comprising the steps of:

• inserting the catheter through the skin area into the vein or artery and forming a wound site;
• attaching a powder containment device (PCD) to the skin area, the PCD having a hole formed centrally therethrough substantially wider than a width of the catheter adapted to surround the catheter at the wound site, said hole, in combination with the skin area, defining an open cavity;
• positioning the skin area in a generally horizontal orientation;
• at least partially filling said cavity with an anhydrous hemostatic agent which includes an effective amount of a salt ferrate combined with an effective amount of an insoluble cation exchange material, said salt ferrate combining with blood to form a trivalent Fe+++ ion promoting blood clotting and producing oxygen to reduce bacteria level at the wound site, said cation exchange material forming a protective sealing cover over the wound site as said trivalent Fe+++ ion is formed;
• applying pressure against said hemostatic agent;
• maintaining the pressure against said hemostatic agent for a time sufficient to arrest blood flow from the wound site;
• releasing the pressure and covering the PCD with a transparent or translucent adhesive dressing.

A method of reducing air embolisms associated with vascular access procedures involving catheter insertion and removal comprising the steps of:

• positioning a skin area into a working orientation;
• pouring a quantity of an anhydrous hemostatic agent sufficient to produce an asymmetric dry/wet powder pile around a wound site made by insertion or removal of a catheter into or from a vascular member, the hemostatic agent including an effective amount of a salt ferrate combined with an effective amount of an insoluble cation exchange material, said salt ferrate combining with blood to form a trivalent Fe+++ ion promoting blood clotting and producing oxygen to reduce bacteria level at the wound site, said cation exchange material forming a protective sealing cover over the wound site as said trivalent Fe+++ ion is formed;
• applying semi-occlusive pressure against said hemostatic agent and maintaining the pressure against said hemostatic agent for a time sufficient to arrest blood flow from the wound site;
• releasing the pressure and covering said hemostatic agent with a transparent or translucent adhesive dressing.