Hemostasis using high intensity focused ultrasound.

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been shown to be an effective method of hemostasis, in animal studies, for both solid organs and blood vessels. Two distinct effects of HIFU, thermal and mechanical, appear to contribute to hemostasis. Acoustic hemostasis may provide an effective method in surgery and prehospital settings for treating trauma and elective surgery patients. A review of the methodology is given.