[Clinical presentation of bleeding in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit : Organ systems and clinical implications].

Bleedings are frequent and clinically important complications in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit, and-depending on location and intensity-are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The clinical impact of different bleeding entities is affected by the location (e.g. intracerebral bleedings), the severity (e.g. fulminant variceal bleeding) and the incidence (e.g. gastrointestinal bleeding) of the respective bleeding type. Therapy varies among bleeding entities, but consists of stabilization of the patient, control of the bleeding, and prevention of complications. This review describes relevant therapeutic aspects of selected bleeding complications in critically ill patients.