TABLE 1.

Mayo Clinic classification scheme for postoperative hemorrhage.⁹

Minor	Any description of visualized bright red blood or blood clots resolved without operative management whether or not physician evaluation or hospitalization occurred.
Intermediate	Diffuse venous oozing or small arterial source bleeding resulting in operating room evaluation or intervention managed with monopolar or bipolar cautery.
Major	Brisk or copious bleeding requiring operative intervention managed with transoral or transcervical vessel ligation, or interventional radiology embolization.
Severe	Bleeding resulting in life-threatening medical complications such as: Hypoxia/airway compromise requiring tracheostomy Cardiopulmonary arrest Hemodynamic instability requiring blood transfusion Death

Reproduced with permission from JAMA Otolaryngol–Head Neck Surg 2013;139:1212–1218. © 2013 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.