Hemorrhagic shock

Hemorrhagic shock is life-threatening circulatory failure caused by severe blood loss. Reduced circulating blood volume deprives tissues of oxygen and can lead to organ failure and death.

Hypovolemia: A state in which circulating blood or fluid volume is too low to sustain normal circulation. Blood loss causes the volume deficit that initiates hemorrhagic shock.
Advanced Trauma Life Support: A structured approach to the initial assessment and treatment of injured patients. Its primary survey prioritizes life-threatening hemorrhage and immediate resuscitation.
Cardiac output: The volume of blood the heart pumps per minute. Blood loss can reduce venous return and lower the heart's output.
Traumatic hemorrhage: Severe bleeding caused by physical injury to blood vessels or organs. Trauma is a common setting in which rapid blood loss causes hemorrhagic shock.
Oxygen delivery: The transport of oxygen from the lungs through circulation to tissues. Falling blood volume and red-cell mass reduce oxygen reaching vital organs.
Damage control resuscitation: A trauma-care strategy combining restricted crystalloid use, blood products, and rapid bleeding control. It aims to restore perfusion without worsening hemorrhage or disrupting clot formation.
Systemic vascular resistance: The resistance blood encounters while flowing through the systemic circulation. Vasoconstriction raises resistance as the body tries to preserve pressure during blood loss.
Gastrointestinal bleeding: Blood loss originating anywhere in the digestive tract. Large or ongoing gastrointestinal bleeds can cause shock without an external wound.
Compensated shock: An early stage of shock in which compensatory responses preserve blood pressure despite impaired tissue perfusion. Vasoconstriction and faster heart rate can temporarily conceal worsening blood loss.
Massive transfusion protocol: A hospital protocol for rapidly delivering blood components during life-threatening bleeding. Early coordinated transfusion supports patients whose blood loss exceeds routine replacement.

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