Intermediate
Technical
IVT
occult hemorrhage
Hidden or non-obvious bleeding that may not be immediately apparent during initial trauma assessment.
Full Definition
Internal bleeding that is not clinically evident during primary evaluation but may cause significant blood loss and hemodynamic compromise. Common sites include retroperitoneal spaces, pelvis, long bone fractures, and chest cavity. Recognition requires high clinical suspicion, serial examinations, and often advanced imaging. Occult hemorrhage is a frequent cause of unexplained hemodynamic instability in trauma patients and requires systematic evaluation to identify the bleeding source.
In Context
- "The patient's hemodynamic instability suggested occult hemorrhage despite normal initial examination." — progress note
- "CT imaging revealed retroperitoneal occult hemorrhage not apparent on physical examination." — radiology report
Also known as
hidden bleeding
concealed hemorrhage
Contrasted with
obvious hemorrhage
external bleeding
Don't confuse with
controlled bleeding