Bleeding or bruising following surgery

A hemorrhage is bleeding or an abnormal flow of blood. A hematoma is a collection of blood (usually clotted) in body tissue or an organ. When these conditions occur after a surgical procedure, they may be considered postoperative hemorrhages or hematomas.  Post-operative hemorrhage and hematoma is a very common potential complication of surgery. These complications can range from mild bruising to severe bleeding, but most are mild and don't require intervention. 

While some patients have higher risks than others, some of these complications may be preventable. A lower rate may indicate that a hospital provides a higher level of patient care.

About this measure

This measure tracks the number of adult surgery patients who required treatment to correct a post-surgery hemorrhage or hematoma out of every 1000 adults who had a surgical procedure.

In this case, a lower number is better.