Bleeding

A bleeding, and hemorrhage ( ancient Greek: αἱμορραγία - blood flow, hemorrhage ( αἷμα - blood), Latinized: hämorragia ), is the leakage of blood from any area of ​​the bloodstream and the blood circulation. Bleeding are possible from all vessels of the systemic circulation or the pulmonary circulation.

Bleeding can escape to the outside from the body or in the body inwards Bleeding ( internal bleeding ); If this internal bleeding occurs near the skin surface, often forming a hematoma ( bruise ) form.

If the blood loss is large ( hypovolemia ), it can very quickly to shock and eventually death ( bleeding to death ). This may be the case with only bleeding from the capillaries, such as in the Marburg fever, Ebola haemorrhagic fever, or fever.

Increased bleeding tendency are called hemorrhagic diathesis. After the size distinction is punctate ( petechiae ), spotty ( ecchymosis ), coin-sized ( Sugillationen ) and large-area bleeding ( suffusions ).

Measures for hemostasis

Bleeding wounds are initially covered with a dressing. Any foreign objects in the wound should be padded, their removal by qualified technicians. For heavy bleeding, in particular for breach of a major artery ( aorta ) or a larger vein ( blood vessel ) occur, it may also be necessary to apply a pressure bandage.

If this does not come to a stop a blood flow, it may be necessary to compress the proximal arteries in the circulation. The setting is used when no adequate hemostasis can be achieved by printing.

Bagatellblutungen can remain uncared for may. Since the bleeding has a wound-cleansing effect, the risk decreased by wound infections. Under no circumstances wounds should be washed out.

Death by bleeding

When a rupture of the aorta and the associated rapid collapse of the circulatory system, death occurs within a few seconds. In a slow blood loss it may take a few hours until the injured party has gone through all stages of hemorrhagic shock:

In a volume of 5-6 liters of blood, the absence of up to 0.75 liters of blood is not critical. A blood donation is approximately 0.5 liters. The loss of 1.5 liters leads to thirst and weakness, breathing accelerates, the person feels fear. From 2 liters of blood loss you feel confused, dizzy and eventually loses consciousness. Due to the massive reduction of cardiac output, the collapse of the circulatory system takes place.