II. Indications

  1. Hemostatic agent for small wounds

III. Mechanism

  1. Topical Hemostatic Agent
  2. Silver Nitrate sticks applied to small bleeding sites release silver that binds tissue Proteins
  3. Bound Protein precipitates into a black eschar that obstructs small blood vessels

IV. Technique

  1. Clean bleeding site and apply local pressure
  2. Apply Silver Nitrate stick to bleeding site

V. Adverse Effects

  1. Exercise care to avoid Tattooing (e.g. on face) and to avoid local spread and damage to adjacent tissue

VI. References

  1. Berry in Schrage (2013) Topical Hemostatic Agents, Medscape Emedicine
  2. Peralta in Sanfrey (2013) Overview of Topical Hemostatic Agents and tissues adhesives used in the operating room, UpToDate, Wolters-Kluwer
  3. Achneck (2010) Ann Surg 251(2):217-28 [PubMed]

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Ontology: Silver Nitrate (C0037129)

Definition (NCI) An inorganic chemical with antiseptic activity. Silver nitrate can potentially be used as a cauterizing or sclerosing agent.
Definition (SPN) Dye and chemical solution stains for medical purposes are mixtures of synthetic or natural dyes or nondye chemicals in solutions used in staining cells and tissues for diagnostic histopathology, cytopathology, or hematology.
Definition (MSH) A silver salt with powerful germicidal activity. It has been used topically to prevent OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Inorganic Chemical (T197)
MSH D012835
SnomedCT 281759006, 332464009, 333344005, 35476001, 373483000, 255985001, 411331002
English Silver Nitrate, Nitric acid silver(1+) salt, Silver nitrate [disinfectant], Silver nitrate [warts], silver nitrate (ophthalmic) (medication), ophthalmologicals silver nitrate, silver nitrate (ophthalmic), Silver Nitrate Ophthalmic, silver nitrate ophthalmic, Silver Nitrate [Chemical/Ingredient], SILVER NITRATE, nitrate silver, silver nitrate, Silver nitrate [disinfectant] (product), Silver nitrate [warts] (product), Silver nitrate, Silver nitrate (in water), AgNO3 - Silver nitrate, Silver nitrate product, Lunar caustic, Silver nitrate (in water) (substance), Silver nitrate (product), Silver nitrate (substance), Silver nitrate [disinfectant] (substance), Silver nitrate [warts] (substance), Silver nitrate (in water) (product)
French Nitrate d'argent
Swedish Silvernitrat
Czech dusičnan stříbrný
Finnish Hopeanitraatti
Russian SEREBRA NITRAT, СЕРЕБРА НИТРАТ
Japanese 硝酸銀
Polish Azotan srebra, Srebrowy azotan
Norwegian Sølvnitrat
Spanish nitrato de plata (desinfectante), nitrato de plata (uso en verrugas), nitrato de plata (uso en verrugas) (producto), nitrato de plata (desinfectante) (producto), cáustico lunar, nitrato de plata (en agua) (sustancia), nitrato de plata (en agua), nitrato de plata (producto), nitrato de plata (sustancia), nitrato de plata (verrugas) (producto), nitrato de plata (verrugas), nitrato de plata, nitrato de plata (en agua) (producto), Nitrato de Plata
German Argentum nitricum, Silbernitrat
Italian Nitrato d'argento
Portuguese Nitrato de Prata