title: [Postoperative hemorrhage].
abstract: Postoperative hemorrhage is the second most frequent indication for early relaparotomy. The incidence depends on the level of care in a given hospital. It is highest, therefore, in institutions delivering maximal care with many trauma cases. We performed 3443 laparotomies from January 1988 to March 1991. 214 (5.9%) patients had to be reoperated, 48 of them because of postoperative bleeding. This amounts to 1.3% of the total number of laparotomies. Bleeding was identified through drains, ultrasonography or endoscopy, ultrasonography having the highest sensitivity and specificity. Total mortality was 30%. Analysis of the literature shows that mortality is lowest when relaparotomies are performed on 3%-6% of patients.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Universitätsklinik, Freiburg, Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Farthmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strittmatter
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Mappes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voigt
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation
vernacular_title: Postoperative Nachblutung.