Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
physiologic exhaustion
Critical depletion of the body's compensatory mechanisms in severely injured patients, often manifesting as coagulopathy, hypothermia, and acidosis.
Full Definition
A state where the patient's physiological reserves are depleted due to severe injury, massive blood loss, or prolonged shock, characterized by the lethal triad of coagulopathy, hypothermia, and metabolic acidosis. This condition represents the endpoint of the body's ability to maintain homeostasis and indicates the need for damage control strategies rather than prolonged surgical procedures. Recognition of physiologic exhaustion is crucial in determining when to abort complex reconstructive surgery in favor of rapid hemorrhage control and resuscitation.
In Context
- "The patient showed signs of physiologic exhaustion with severe coagulopathy and hypothermia." — operative report
- "Recognition of physiologic exhaustion prompted transition to damage control surgery." — case presentation
Also known as
physiologic depletion
metabolic exhaustion
Contrasted with
physiologic reserve
Don't confuse with
hemodynamic instability
circulatory failure