Discussion
The primary goal in management of hemorrhagic
hypovolemia is control of blood loss. Hypotension due
to acute and severe blood loss represents a state of shock
and can lead to organ failure and death. Supporters of
early aggressive resuscitation in acute bleeding thought
that the need to improve perfusion of vital organs was
more important than any risk of aggravating hemorrhage.
39 Patients in severe hemorrhagic shock benefit from
the use of intravenous crystalloids and colloids along with
blood products.40 Blood products are not widely available
before arrival in the emergency department and should,
when possible, be the initial fluid of resuscitation in the
hospital environment, especially if a patient’s estimated
22 CriticalCareNurse Vol 33, No. 6, DECEMBER 2013 www.ccnonline.org
In patients whose hemorrhage can not be
controlled, infusion of large volumes of
fluid results in increased blood loss.
blood loss is 30% or more of normal circulating volume
(stage 2 hypovolemia).41
Clearly, however, fluid resuscitation that results in a
MAP greater than 80 to 90 mm Hg before surgical
hemostasis is associated with increased bleeding.26 Several
pathophysiologial factors are responsible. Increased
intravascular volume affects active bleeding by hindering
clotting. Administration of intravenous fluids can
also lead to hemodilution, because the fluids do not
contain clotting factors or erythrocytes, and to
hypothermia, if unwarmed, because of the increased
infusion rate (>4 mL/kg per minute).32
Current evidence42 suggests that moderate hypotension
for less than 30 minutes can be tolerated by trauma
patients without progression to end-organ failure. These
patients respond better to a possible delay in surgical
management of the hemorrhage in a definitive care facility
than do patients with greater hypotension. Hypotensive
resuscitation seems, also, to reduce bleeding via
administration of lower volumes of fluid but does not
markedly affect the metabolic acidosis that occurs due to
hypoxic tissue conditions. Therefore, hypotensive resuscitation
is a reasonable approach for trauma patients
who have lost up to 30% of total blood volume (stage 2
hypovolemia).11 Use of permissive hypotension avoids
the adverse effects of early aggressive resuscitation mentioned
in the Advanced Trauma Life Support guidelines
yet maintains a level of tissue perfusion that, although
lower than normal, seems to be adequate.
However, as promising as permissive hypotension
can be, it can be fatal in some patients.43 Of note, permissive
hypotension is contraindicated in patients with
traumatic brain injuries, because adequate perfusion
pressure is crucial to ensure tissue oxygenation of the
central nervous system,44 and in patients who are near
circulatory collapse (ie, stages 3 and 4 of hypovolemic
shock). Preexisting conditions such as hypertension,
angina pectoris, coronary disease, and carotid stenosis
may also lead to severe cardiovascular dysfunction when
trauma patients are hypotensive. These conditions are
common mainly in the elderly (>65 years old), but also
occur in other age groups because of occult disease.
Undoubtedly, the best way to manage life-threatening
hemorrhage is surgical control in the operating room.8
Any resuscitation strategy is only a temporary measure,
a tool in the management of patients with hypovolemia.
Therefore, whatever strategy is followed, it should not
lead to additional delay in the transfer of a patient to the
operating room if indicated. Attempts to place a catheter
and administer intravenous fluids may delay the delivery
of definitive hospital care.44 Sampalis et al45 reported that
mortality was significantly higher (P