Haemostasis
Pronunciation: hee-moh-STAY-sis
The process—or its surgical achievement—by which bleeding is stopped, whether by physiological clotting mechanisms or surgical intervention.
Full Definition
Haemostasis in oral surgery refers both to the body's natural process of stopping haemorrhage through vascular, platelet, and coagulation mechanisms, and to the active surgical measures taken to control intraoperative or postoperative bleeding. Surgical haemostasis techniques include pressure, electrocautery, suturing, topical agents (e.g., oxidised cellulose, tranexamic acid), and vessel ligation. Editors must note the British English spelling 'haemostasis' versus the American English 'hemostasis'—both are correct in their respective contexts but must be consistent within a document. The term should not be confused with 'homeostasis,' a general physiological balance term.
Usage
Usage note: British English: 'haemostasis'; American English: 'hemostasis.' Enforce spelling consistency throughout a document. Never substitute 'homeostasis,' which has an entirely different meaning.
In Context
- "Haemostasis was achieved with pressure and the application of oxidised cellulose prior to wound closure." — Operative report (British English)
- "The editor flagged 'homeostasis' as a critical substitution error in a surgical technique section describing intraoperative bleeding control." — Surgical textbook chapter proofread