SUPPER GLUE ON WOUNDS !
Printed From: First Aid Cafe
Category: Mainly First Aid
Forum Name: I was asked today…
Forum Discription: Common questions that are asked during training. The intention is to construct a reference Q&A. section for first aid. Please post both question and associated answer.
URL: http://www.FirstAidCafe.co.uk/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3260
Printed Date: 02 Sep 2010 at 5:59pm
Topic: SUPPER GLUE ON WOUNDS !
Posted By: James Llewellyn
Subject: SUPPER GLUE ON WOUNDS !
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2006 at 5:26pm
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I have been recently teaching a students from a coumpany that we have recently won a contract for and I have been approached twice now about using supper glue to close wounds, apparently taght by a previous trainer.
I instinctively said that this may cause burns to tissue and there is a risk of allergic reaction. I understand that HSE wouldn't be in any possition to aprove the use of supper glue in the work place. Are there any other oppinions on this so I can follow this up please.
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Replies:
Posted By: Green
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2006 at 11:10am
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Hi, Before initiating treatment to an emergency wound, a number of questions should be asked to carry out an accurate wound assessment. What? What type of wound is it? What was the mechanism of injury? When? When did it happen? Wounds older than six hours are more prone to infection. In A&E we use the four S’s options for closing wounds; adhesive strips (dressings), sutures, staples, and surgical glue, with sutures and Steri-Strips (3M) being the most common. Adhesive tape works best in superficial, straight, low-tension wounds, flap wounds, lacerations, and in those patients who have a high potential for infection, patients who are currently steroid dependent, or in the elderly with frail skin. Sutures are a widely used solution for wound and laceration repair. They work well in areas of high tension, for large or very long wounds/lacerations, and in areas of oily or hairy skin, twisting, turning, or frequent washing. Staples were initially used for closure of surgical wounds and favoured because of the ease and quickness of insertion. The use of staples has been associated with improved cosmetic outcomes. Ok now the bit you are interested in, glue. A&E uses medicated superglue, such as DERMABOND. The surgical glues do offer a variety of advantages over other closure methods. They are inexpensive and easy to apply. The wound closure time is shortened by 20–50% over use of sutures, and anaesthesia is not normally required. Follow-up or removal visits are virtually eliminated, as is the risk of needle stick injury. Over-the-counter glues have been written about in the national media. Both Super Glue and Krazy Glue have been identified as being used for quick, inexpensive relief from paper cuts. They are considerably cheaper than the medicated glue and are readily available in chemists and DIY stores. FA’s who choose to use these products run the risk of allergic reactions to the glue and poor wound cosmetic appearance from edges that are not approximated. Wounds that are not properly cleaned may retain debris or become infected. Proper screening for tetanus immunity is also a concern. This treatment may delay hospital assessment and, consequently, may result in a poorer outcome. The Web site for Krazy Glue also notes that there is always a risk that patients can glue the wound and, in the process, stick fingers together (Hey, I saw a doctor glue an eyelid together whilst they were attempting to glue a cut on the eyebrow). Medicated glues have been researched and tested and also contain other good bits such as anaesthetic and anti bacterial components. So for our Over-the-counter glues I recommend NO to our FA’s for the following reasons:-
At the end of the day it is still a chemical and therefore it should be treated as any other lotion and potion. Regards Rich References Cole, E. (2003) Wound management in the A&E department. Nursing Standard. 17 (46): 45-52, 54, 56. Autio, L. (2002) The Four S's of Wound Management: Staples, Sutures, Steri-Strips, and Sticky Stuff. Holistic Nursing Practise. 16 (2): 80–88. ------------- I have a dragon and I am not afraid to use it |
Posted By: itchyteeth
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2006 at 4:41pm
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Wow, thanx.
Itchy
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Posted By: muncher
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2006 at 12:06pm
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My view on this is First Aiders provide wound coverings. It is the medics who provide the wound closures.
If the wound needs closing by stitchs, steristrips, or glue then the wound needs to be properly assessed my medical personnel.
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Posted By: Lazaurite
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2006 at 11:03pm
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Bottom line I do not want to see anything other than a dressing on a wound in A&E. It is first aid not secondary aid or lets not bother the medical staff because their busy aid. First aid is really simple in my eyes Preserve life, Promote the recovery of the patient and prevent the conditioning from getting any worse. However it is simpler than that.
Get help of the qualified medical staff and try not to let them die in the meantime!
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Posted By: Hectic Hector
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2006 at 12:19pm
Fantastic information, thanks for all your help. As i thought, not good!
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Posted By: cainnech
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2006 at 1:26am
| I had an occasion where whilst in the middle of moving home and having everything packed suffered a deep cut to a finger, the only thing I could see available was Super Glue so I used it and it worked. Soon afer moving I went to my GP and was advised to go to the Hospsital as house hold super glue contains toxins; which are poisonous to the human body should they get into the blood stream. Not adviseable to use Super Glue. |
Posted By: rammy
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2007 at 1:45pm
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Hi James,
Super glue was firstly invented for the vietnam war to close wounds, however a lot died from infection being kept in.
I used Hystercryl about 10 years ago to close a hand
 wound whilst in the army. First I cleaned the wound, cut out dead tissue/fat and then applied the glue (purple in colour). A tetanus jab was also included.First aiders should not close off an wound, their job is to stop or slow down the loss of blood.
Finally super glue is an industrial glue whilst the glue I used was a medical glue. there is a difference
Regards
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Posted By: the dog
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2007 at 10:19pm
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The original post refers to a group of students, presumably on a FAW course, asking about skin closure. It is one thing having a debate amongst HC professionals, paramedics, etc about skin closure but the answer to James' question is simple. FA's do not carry out skin closure. As far as I am concerned, control of bleeding by a FA is simply PEPSI;
Position
Examine/Elevate
Pressure
Shock (treat for)
Infection (minimise)
Let's not confuse the issue. ------------- Train hard, fight easy! |
Posted By: Corbuzon
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2007 at 8:47pm
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I'd been a first aider for a little while prior to the last time I had a deep [gushy] cut on my thumb at home I didn't bother with anything. Just held my other finger tight up against it, got a lift to A&E and let the professionals sort me out. I had a first aid kit, glues etc at home but I knew it would need stitching - 5 - and figured anything I did would just slow the nurses down. In practice in the field I have used Steri-strips but only as a last resort - first aid is about protecting the wound from infection or further damage, that means a good clean wound, good quality dressings and effective wrapping/bandaging then off to a medical facility for proper examination/treatment.
Quite frankly unless something has been sanctioned for use as a medical treatment aid/first aid product why risk it?
I just have this image of a patient arriving at hospital with a nitrile glove attached to a glued wound because it got stuck to the patient when the first aider was using SuperGlue to stick it back together.
I suppose you could always sprinkle a bit of glitter on it to make it look pretty though!
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Posted By: Ultrasonic
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2007 at 4:24pm
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Those with access to it might be interested in a case report in this months (March 2007) EMJonline on the topic of supergluing wounds: http://emj.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/24/3/228 |
Posted By: Mad Medic
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2007 at 12:48pm
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Just a little bit to add to this thread, I know a number of Ambulance Trusts (incl. our local one Berks Division SCAS) are training all of their frontline staff in the use of medical superglue. Which I for one think is an entirely positive and proactive step which can and has saved transport to and admission to A&E.
However they are all health care professionals who have the skills knowledge and experience to make a decision on the appropriateness of it's use and then safely use a medicinal product.
First Aiders in the work place NO, read the ACOP (L74) it's quite clear about potions, lotions and pills.
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Posted By: derek
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2007 at 10:01am
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As I said on another thread, the "1st closure should be the last".
We don't want the casualty going through a re-opening procedure due to infection or fragments of glass still being present etc.
Steri-strips are not for the First aider.
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