ABSTRACT
Severe hemorrhage is a prevalent complication in trauma victims, arising from bone and soft tissue injuries causing life-threatening blood loss (1,2). Lifethreatening blood loss (i.e. severe hemorrhage) is also frequently encountered during complex surgical procedures, such as aneurysm resection (1). A large number of studies reviewed elsewhere (3,4) have also shown that patients who encounter severe hemorrhagic shock remain at an increased risk for subsequent infections and multiple organ failure. Thus, despite the use of specific antibiot ics, aggressive fluid resuscitation, and nutritional support, the prognosis of se verely injured patients with serious infections remains grim. Nonetheless, it is encouraging that the complex pathophysiology of hemorrhagic shock is becom ing better understood as more studies are being reported (1,5,6). It is antici pated that, with additional studies, information might be forthcoming that will lead to better management of trauma victims.
