exsanguinate

Exsanguinate is a verb meaning to drain a person or animal of blood. This can occur naturally, such as through a severe wound or a predatory attack, or it can be a deliberate act. In a medical context, exsanguination is a severe and life-threatening loss of blood, often resulting from trauma or surgical complications. It can also refer to the process of removing blood for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, although this is usually termed phlebotomy or blood donation and is done in controlled amounts.

Historically, exsanguination was a method of execution, particularly through bleeding out. In fictional contexts, it is often depicted as a consequence of vampiric feeding or other supernatural means of blood extraction. The term itself derives from the Latin words "ex" meaning "out" and "sanguis" meaning "blood." The physiological consequences of exsanguination include a drastic drop in blood pressure, organ failure due to lack of oxygen and nutrients, and ultimately, death. Treatment for exsanguination involves immediate blood replacement through transfusions and addressing the source of the bleeding.