ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Permissive hypotension

Okay kiddo, imagine your body is a water balloon. When too much water fills the balloon, it can burst. That’s kind of what happens when a person loses a lot of blood due to an injury or accident. The body goes into shock and starts to pump faster to keep the blood flowing.

Permissive hypotension is when doctors are careful to not give too much liquid into the body to replace the lost blood. They do this to keep the blood pressure low and prevent the balloon (your body) from bursting. It may not seem like a great idea to keep the body low on fluid, but it’s actually good because it helps the heart pump the blood better and prevents more bleeding.

The doctors choose to do this because sometimes, if they put too much fluid into the body, it can cause other problems like swelling or more bleeding. So, they let the body stay low on fluids and give it only what it needs. This helps the body recover better and faster. In short, permissive hypotension is when doctors let the body stay low on fluids to prevent further damage after a severe injury or blood loss.