When is the risk of hemorrhage highest after surgery?

• A. After the first week.
• B. After the second month.
• C. Throughout healing.
• D. Within the first 48 hours

Answer: (D)

Postoperative hemorrhage risk is highest in the immediate post-op period, especially within the first 48 hours after surgery. At this time, hemostasis is still stabilizing: clots are forming and the surgical vessels may still be fragile, so any movement, coughing, or blood pressure spikes can disrupt clot formation and lead to bleeding. As healing progresses, tissues begin to seal vessels more securely, and the likelihood of significant bleeding decreases. Late bleeding—after the first week or later—often relates to wound infection, dehiscence, or other complications rather than the initial failure of hemostasis. So the answer reflects the period when the body has just undergone surgery and is still establishing stable hemostasis.