Haemorrhage control in extremity stab injury.

The Foley catheter is described in the emergency treatment of penetrating cardiac injuries, and its intra-operative use to control bleeding while definitive measures for intravascular embolization are being made. We present the first reported case of the use of a urinary catheter to control haemorrhage in an extremity stab injury to obtain haemodynamic stability while awaiting definitive surgical treatment. This quick, easy and useful technique can be used for junctional vascular injuries and wounds with a narrow neck, and can be easily removed once in the operating theatre. This life-saving, simple and cost-effective technique 'internalises' the externally applied pressure to control massive haemorrhage while awaiting definitive operative intervention. The catheter can be sutured in place if the patient is to be transferred to another department or hospital.