Hi Matthew! Great question, and one we have answered quite a few times.

X-stat: XSTAT 30 is cleared for use in patients at high risk for immediate, life-threatening, and severe hemorrhagic shock and non-compressible junctional wounds, when definitive care at an emergency care facility cannot be achieved within minutes. XSTAT 30 is not indicated for use in certain parts of the chest, abdomen, pelvis or tissue above the collarbone.

Let me explain the above. This means there are only two areas on your body that is FDA approved for use. One is just above your legs on either side, the other is just under your clavicle bone on either side. It is not for any leg or arm injuries, chest or abdomen, above the collar bones or pelvis areas.

Moving on. It is by Rx only. Which means only an ARNP or a doctor can even prescribe it. I know this because I called the company 2 months ago to inquire about purchasing.

It costs $425 per syringe, as per the phone call to the X-Stat sales rep, remember this is per syringe when you read the next paragraph below. Or you can buy a 3 pack for $1000.

Each single syringe has 92 sponges covered in CELOX. An X-ray must be performed both before and after the removal process. I’m not sure your surgeon is going to be happy about having to pluck out 92 sponges, one at a time. In the studies performed up to 8 syringes were used to stop the bleeding. 8 x 92, I’m really sure the surgeon will not be happy at that point!

Celox products may be “expensive” but you can get a 10 foot Celox gauze for about $38-$40, or at least 10-12 of these for the same price as one X-Stat! Plus you can use Celox in arms, legs and the same junctional locations as the X-Stat. Last, but not least Celox is super easy to remove as 1 gauze strip or a powder that turns into a jelly-like easily washed out substance.

I can’t think of any situation where the X-stat would be a “better” product to buy and carry vs. Celox gauze or applicator, as you never know where an injury is going to occur. It was highly touted during the research stage, but the FDA did not agree. Beware of marketing strategies that claim a cure-all and the greatest thing to ever be invented, in the end they may just turn out to be a pie in the sky. Perhaps the military budget can handle the costs, but the jury is still out.

Thanks for the question!
Nurse Amy 🙂