| Q: |
How should I hold the Compass device when applying pressure? |
| A: |
Hold Compass with the base of the palm of your hand placed over the top of the round Compass handle. This prevents wrist extension and makes it more comfortable to apply pressure. |
| Q: |
Does the time needed for hemostasis change when I use Compass? |
| A: |
Time to hemostasis should not differ from manual compression. |
| Q: |
Can we use SuperComfort Discs on a CompressAR® StrongArm SuperComfort Stand as well as on the Compass device? |
| A: |
Yes. The SuperComfort Discs will fit onto SuperComfort Stands, so you don’t need to stock two different kinds of CompressAR Discs. |
| Q: |
Can Compass be used on the same kinds of patients as the CompressAR? |
| A: |
Compass can be used on virtually the same kinds of patients on whom the CompressAR or manual compression is used. |
| Q: |
What cleaning solutions should be used on Compass? |
| A: |
Compass should be cleaned with soap and water, or with alcohol wipes followed by a water rinse. |
| Q: |
Do we need to clean or sterilize new CompressAR SuperComfort Discs before applying them to patients? |
| A: |
No. All CompressAR Discs are pre-sterilized and provided in factory-sealed, sterile packages. The Discs should not be wiped with anything prior to applying them to the patient. All Discs are single-use only and should be disposed of using standard institutional procedures. |
| Q: |
Should we place gauze or an alcohol pad between the patient's skin and the SuperComfort Disc during compression? |
| A: |
No. Nothing should be placed between the patient's skin and the SuperComfort Disc, since this obstructs viewing the puncture site and could interfere with compression. |
| Q: |
What anti-clotting agents can be used on patients, while still permitting use of Compass? |
| A: |
Patients to whom the current standard medications, including heparin, IIb/IIIa inhibitors, aspirin, coumadin, etc. have been administered can still have Compass used on them, however, the compression times may be longer. |
| Q: |
What should ACTs be at the time the sheath is pulled? |
| A: |
ACTs should be below 160 or as per facility protocols; the lower the ACT, the shorter the compression time. |
| Q: |
How soon can we ambulate patients following sheath removal? |
| A: |
According to reports in the literature and from current CompressAR users, minimum times to ambulation with external compression varies between one and four hours -- however, this is highly variable due to types of medication used and the patient's condition. See Early Ambulation Studies |
| Q: |
Is there any latex in the Compass device or in the CompressAR Discs? |
| A: |
No, there is no latex in any of the CompressAR, Compass or Disc components. |
