What is the medical term for a wound that slowly bleeds or seeps blood?

Medical Terms for Slow Bleeding or Seeping Blood from Wounds

The medical term for a wound that slowly bleeds or seeps blood is "oozing" (Forrest 1b classification for bleeding ulcers). 1

Types of Bleeding Classifications

• Oozing - Slow, continuous bleeding that seeps from a wound surface 1
• Spurting (Forrest 1a) - Active arterial bleeding with visible pulsation 1
• Non-bleeding visible vessel (Forrest 2a) - A vessel that is visible but not actively bleeding 1

Clinical Significance of Oozing

• Oozing wounds require different management approaches than actively spurting hemorrhage 1
• In gastrointestinal bleeding, oozing ulcers (Forrest 1b) are classified as high-risk lesions requiring endoscopic hemostasis 1
• Oozing may indicate a less severe form of bleeding but still requires monitoring and potential intervention 1

Assessment of Oozing Wounds

• Look for visible blood slowly seeping from wound surfaces 1
• Assess the amount of blood loss by examining clothes, dressings, or collection in drains 1
• Evaluate physiological parameters including:
  • Heart rate and blood pressure
  • Skin color
  • Capillary refill
  • Level of consciousness 1

Management Considerations for Oozing Wounds

• For oozing wounds, local hemostatic measures are often sufficient 2
• Options include:
  • Elastic adhesive dressings (ELAD) - shown to generate approximately 88 mmHg of pressure 2
  • Topical hemostatic agents - such as tranexamic acid solutions 3
  • Manual compression - most effective (180 mmHg) but inconvenient for both patient and caregiver 2

Special Considerations

• Patients with bleeding disorders may have prolonged oozing from surgical wounds 4
• Adequate hemostasis is necessary for 2-3 weeks after surgery in patients with bleeding disorders to avoid complications 4
• Hematoma formation may result from untreated oozing, potentially leading to tissue necrosis due to increased pressure 5
• Malignant wounds may have persistent oozing requiring specialized management approaches 6

Pitfalls and Caveats

• Do not underestimate slow oozing, as cumulative blood loss can be significant 1
• Some patients compensate well despite significant blood loss, making clinical assessment crucial 1
• Field bandages alone may be inadequate for controlling oozing from most body regions 2
• Oozing that persists despite appropriate measures may indicate underlying coagulopathy or more serious vascular injury 1