The non-haemorrhagic vagal response to trauma a review of hypotensive and bradycardic responses to injury in the absence of bleeding (2024) Jonathan Woods

Description

This review summarizes literature regarding the Non-Haemorrhagic Vagal Response to Trauma (NHVRT), a parasympathetic reaction causing hypotension and bradycardia following injury (including blunt, penetrating, and iatrogenic trauma), pain, or psychological distress. The paper explores specific stimuli, injury patterns, and patient characteristics associated with this response, noting the heterogeneity of onset and resolution, and concluding that it is challenging to clinically distinguish NHVRT from hypotensive bradycardia due to hypovolemia secondary to hemorrhage.