In the 3-7-10 pressure protocol, which duration corresponds to nearly occlusive pressure?

• A. 3 minutes
• B. 7 minutes
• C. 10 minutes
• D. 5 minutes

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is staged compression after arterial access to stop bleeding while minimizing harm to the limb. In the 3-7-10 pressure protocol, the first, shortest step uses a nearly occlusive level of pressure. That brief, high-pressure hold is just enough to tamponade the puncture and start hemostasis without completely cutting off distal blood flow. Because it’s the briefest interval, it best represents “nearly occlusive” pressure.

The longer durations are meant to maintain higher levels of compression for longer, moving toward more complete occlusion if needed to sustain hemostasis as time passes. So the three-minute step is the one associated with near-occlusion.