Introduction

Haemorrhage

The escape of blood from the cardiovascular system is termed haemorrhage. Haemorrhage is usually referred to as internal or external.

Internal haemorrhage is into tissues or body cavities.

External haemorrhage is lost from the body; sources include peripheral tissues (e.g. skin, subcutis) or alimentary, respiratory or urogenital tracts.

This dog died from acute haemoperitoneum as a result of slippage of a ligature placed during ovariohysterectomy.

This dog died from acute haemopericardium due to haemorrhage into the pericardial sac from a tumour on the external aspect of the right auricle of the heart.

Haemorrhage from the nose is termed epistaxis.

Haemorrhage in the urine is termed haematuria. This cat died from obstruction of the lower urinary tract by struvite crystals. The bladder is severely distended and contains blood and urine.

A haematoma is a palpable, space-occupying mass of extravasated blood within tissues. This is a traumatic haematoma beneath the nail of a human toe.

Cases