[Complex surgical techniques to control bleeding]

Massive bleeding is a major cause of intraoperative death or death in the immediate postoperative period as a result of surgery. The present article describes the basic principles for the control of surgical bleeding as well as temporary and definitive maneuvers. Temporary control of bleeding can often be achieved with simple maneuvers, which may not be definitive, in which case damage control or planned reoperation are required. The surgeon's aim should always be to control the bleeding. If simple maneuvers fail, more complex procedures are required. The present article also describes these maneuvers to control bleeding (Pringle's maneuver, total vascular exclusion, atrial caval shunt, Mattox's maneuver, Cattel Braasch maneuver, Kocher's maneuver and aortic control maneuvers).