What does dark blood in the surgical field mean?
- Hypoxia: This means that the tissue is not getting enough oxygen, which can lead to tissue damage and necrosis.
- Venous congestion: This means that the blood is not flowing properly from the surgical field, which can also lead to tissue damage.
- Bleeding: This is obvious, but it's important to note that bleeding can be either arterial (bright red) or venous (dark red).
- Infection: This can cause dark blood to appear in the surgical field due to the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms.
- Malperfusion: This means that the blood supply to the surgical field is blocked or impaired.
It is important to identify the cause of dark blood in the surgical field as soon as possible so that appropriate treatment can be initiated.