Estimating Potential Blood Volume Loss (Part 1)

TABLE 34—3 Estimating Potential Blood Volume Loss Location Chest Abdomen Pelvis and retroperitoneum l Volume Loss gln the adult, 2 5 L of blood can be lost in each hemothorax Thus, a total of 5 L can be lost inside the chest, which would be the total blood volume of a 70—kg persont As much as 6 L of blood can be lost ' via intraperitoneal bleeding from damaged organs or vessels. 3 Unstable pelvic fractures, especially those involving the posterior elements of the pelvis, can precipitate liters of blood loss. A patient may actually exsanguinate from an unstable pelvic fracture involving posterior bony elementst