title: The crepe bandage as an alternative to the Esmarch bandage for upper limb exsanguination: a volumetric comparison study.
abstract: A study was carried out to compare the effectiveness of upper limb exsanguination using the Esmarch bandage, a crepe bandage and the Rhys-Davies exsanguinator. Upper limb volume changes were measured in ten volunteers using a water displacement method. The crepe bandage produced a mean volume reduction of 59 ml (range, 39-94), which was very similar to the Esmarch bandage, which achieved 63 ml (range, 42-101). This difference is negligible in practical terms. Both bandages were more effective than the Rhys-Davies exsanguinator, which reduced the volume by a mean of 28 ml (range, 11-54). It is our opinion that the use of the Esmarch bandage in hand surgery is unnecessary and recommend the crepe bandage as a safer alternative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Locomotor Disorders, The Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, UK.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alshawi
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D001458:Bandages; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D001811:Blood Volume Determination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014111:Tourniquets