tourniquet

An instrument for temporarily arresting the flow of blood to or from a distal part by pressure applied with an encircling device. [Fr. fr. tourner, to turn]

- Dupuytren t. an instrument for compression on the abdominal aorta.

- Esmarch t. a rubber t. that is wrapped around an extremity from distal to proximal before starting a surgical procedure to exsanguinate the limb before the inflation of a proximally placed pneumatic t.. SYN: Esmarch bandage.

- Rummel t. a t. fashioned by passing an umbilical tape around a vessel and bringing both ends through a short red rubber catheter. The t. can be tightened and secured with a perpendicularly placed hemostat at the end of the catheter farthest from the vessel.

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tour·ni·quet 'tu̇r-ni-kət, 'tər- n a device (as a bandage twisted tight with a stick) to check bleeding or blood flow

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n.

a device to press upon an artery and prevent flow of blood through it, usually a cord, rubber tube, or tight bandage bound around a limb. Tourniquets are no longer recommended as a first-aid measure to stop bleeding from a wound because of the danger of reducing the supply of oxygen to other tissues (direct pressure on the wound itself is considered less harmful). However, a temporary tourniquet to increase the distension of veins when a sample of blood is being taken does no harm.

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tour·ni·quet (toorґnĭ-kət) [Fr.] an instrument for compression of a blood vessel by application around an extremity to control the circulation and prevent the flow of blood to or from the distal area.