medical glues

[tangent]

This thread was seriously edited due to some bad content - thanks for clearing things up RESQDOC!

As for vet drugs for use on humans, if you know for SURE the source, go for
it. Most are the same quality as those sold for prescription use by
doctors. But be careful. Vet drugs are not held to the same standards.
Several standards are fairly (only fairly, again, know your source), safe.

Morphine, codeine, acetaminophen, doxylamine succinate, pseudoephedrine HCI
are all used in the cattle and sheep industries and are the same quality as
those used for humans. (Cattle and sheep ranchers are picky. When it
comes to their stock, only the best is acceptable.)

WATCH THE DOSAGE!! Those manufactured for vets are two or three times
higher in concentrations as those manufactured for use by humans.

In any event, in a life or death situation, you use what you have available
and hope for the best.

[RESQDOC]

Ladies & Gents, this thread is seriously hosed and in need of some factual correction.

1. Superglue is not cyanide based. Cyanoacrylate is not cyanide.

2. Wound glues, Durabond & similar, are not used in the wounds but rather over the wound after the edges are approximated.

3. They are for use on small low tension wounds, minor cuts & etc., use for major wound closure is generally avoided except some special closure problems.

4. It has not replaced stitches for a variety of reasons.

5. It is very expensive if you use the medical grade stuff.

6. It (and all cyanoacrylate glues) is easily removed by acetone (finger nail polish remover) you do not need to leave someone stuck together for 4 weeks.

7. It is neither absorbed or extruded by the body, it sits inert on the surface until it weakens and peels off.

I use the medical glue on a weekly basis in the ER, and over the counter stuff has been known to be used in the field on many occasions.

We need to be VERY careful about passing on some of the flagrant crap that is floating around out there regarding medical care. Bad info at times is worse that no info, and we truly have the obligation to

“Do No Harm, Do Know Harm”


BTW, regarding vet drugs (copied from my post on TF):
‘That being said, many forms of veterinary antibiotics are quite safe for use in humans, some are not. I have been on the receiving end of vet antibiotics several times, because that was what was available overseas. On the other hand, I recently took care of one of our local vets who started himself on some antibiotics for a “sinus infection” (which wasn’t) and become quite ill from side effects that do not occur in cattle but do in humans. To take vet meds you must know what you are treating, what the drug effects are in humans, and what preservatives or dilutants are used in the med – ignorance is not bliss. In the case of the vet, the drug belonged to the same class of drugs as Cipro, but never made it out of human trials due to liver damage problems, but works great in cattle. The vet assumed that since some drugs of this class are safe in humans, all are, which is not true of ANY drug class. Oops. Get the facts regarding the particular vet antibiotic you are considering.’

Do not assume, investigate & GET THE FACTS!

Keith

[Reasonable Rascal]

Very goiod info and time some of the "common knowlege" myths were laid to rest. Most common is the superglue instead of sutures one. Because people routinely use it for papercuts they assume it will work well for wounds that need sutures to properly close.

Also good advise on the vet meds. Just because the active ingredient is used for humans does not mean that particular form - antibiotics intended to be mixed in poulrty feed water come to mind right off - is safe for human use.

RR

[tangent]

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/2924/superglue.html

[Dixielee]

We use the dermabond a lot in our ER, especially in kids. As has already been pointed out, the glue does not go into the wound, but over the wound once the edges have been approximated. One word of caution though...this stuff is VERY thin, thinner than superglue, more like water. If you are not careful it will run down hill and glue things you had not planned to glue! We had a 2 year old kid transfered to our ER with a very minor laceration to the forehead, that someone inexperienced with this glue had used, and the glue ran down into the kids eye and glued the eyelid shut! Mom and Dad were not too happy with the other place, or with us having to pry his eyelid open. So be advised, it is quite thin.

[Flotsam]

Just a little trick (i'm sure some of you use it) - when using dermabond, you can "isolate" the area w/ a thin line of bacitracin to help contain the glue from running everywhere - just don't get it near the area you want it :smile: