Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 23, Issue 3 , Pages 317-326 , June 2009

Common errors and remedies in managing postpartum haemorrhage

  • Hennie Lombaard, MBChB(Pret), MMED(OetG)(PRET), FCOG(SA) (Senior Specialist)

      Affiliations

    • Maternal and Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Pretoria, PO Box 2595 Montana Park, Pretoria, 0159 South Africa. Tel.:+27834078632; Fax:+27123296258.
  • ,
  • Robert C. Pattinson, MD, FCOG(SA), FRCOG (Director, Clinical Head)

      Affiliations

    • MRC Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Research Unit, South Africa
    • Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Kalafong, University of Pretoria, South Africa

References 

  1. Jansen AJG, Van Rhenen DJ, Steegers EAP, et al. Postpartum hemorrhage and transfusion of blood and blood components. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2005;60:663–671
  2. Oyelese Y, Scorza WE, Mastrolia R, et al. Postpartum hemorrhage. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2007;34:421–441
  3. Kominiarek MA, Kilpatrick SJ. Postpartum hemorrhage: A recurring pregnancy complication. Semin Perinatol 31: 159–166.
  4. Sobieszczyk S, Breborowicz GH, Platicanov V, et al. Recombinant factor VIIa in the management of post partum bleeds: an audit of clinical use. Acta Obstet Gynecol. 2006;85:1239–1247
  5. Mercier FJ, Van de Velde M. Major obstetric hemorrhage. Anesthesiol Clin. 2008;26:53–66
  6. Cameron MJ, Robson SC. Vital statistics: an overview. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A Textbook of Postpartum Hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 17–34
  7. Mousa HA, Cording V, Alfirevic Z. Risk factors and interventions associated with major primary post partum hemorrhage unresponsive to first-line conventional therapy. Acta Obstet Gynecol. 2008;87:652–661
  8. Doumouchtsis SK, Papageorghiou AT, Arulkumaran S. Systemic review of conservative management of postpartum hemorrhage: what to do when medical therapy fails. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2007;62:540–547
  9. Low LK, Bailey JM, Sacks E, et al. Postpartum hemorrhage prevention: a case study in northern rural Honduras. J Midwifey Womens Health. 2008;53:e1–e6Available from: www.jmwh.org
  10. Hofmeyr J, Walraven G, Gülmezoglu AM, et al. Misoprostol to treat postpartum haemorrhage: a systematic review. Br J Obstet Gynecol. 2005;112:547–553
  11. You WB, Zahn CM. Postpartum hemorrhage: Abnormally adherent placenta, uterine inversion and puerperal hematomas. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2006;49:184–197
  12. Confidential enquiry into Maternal and Child Health. Saving mothers lives: reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer – 2003–2005. Executive summary and key recommendations. London RCOG Press; 2007;Available from: www.cemach.org.uk
  13. Wise A, Clark V. Strategies to manage major Obstetric haemorrhage. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2008;21:281–287
  14. Brace V, Penney G, Hall M. Quantifyiyng severe maternal morbidity: a Scottish population study. Br J Obstet Gynecol. 2004;111:481–484
  15. Mantel GD, Buchmann E, Rees H, et al. Severe acute maternal morbidity: a pilot study of the definition for a nearmiss. Br J Obstet Gynecol. 1998;105:985–990
  16. Oladapo OT, Ariba AJ, Odusoga OL. Changing patterns of emergency obstetric care at a Nigerian University hospital. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2007;98:278–284
  17. Sousa MH, Cecatti JG, Hardy EE, et al. Severe maternal morbidity (near miss) as a sentinel event of maternal death. An attempt to use routine data for surveillance. Reprod Health. 2008;5:Available from: www.reproductive-health-journal.com/content/5/1/6
  18. Vais A, Bewley S. Severe acute maternal morbidity. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A Textbook of postpartum hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 339–352
  19. Listom W. Haemorrhage. In: Confidential enquiry into maternal and child health. Saving mothers lives: Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer – 2003-2005. Executive summary and key recommendations. London RCOG Press; 2007;Available from: www.cemach.org.uk
  20. Knight M, Kurinczuk JJ, Spark P, et al. United Kingdom Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) Annual Report. Oxford: National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit; 2007;
  21. Pattinson RC, Buchmann EJ, Mantel G, et al. Can enquiries into maternal morbidity act as a surrogate for maternal death enquiries?. Br J Obstet Gynecol. 2003;110:889–893
  22. Lombaard HA, Pattinson RC, Backer F, et al. Evaluation of a strict protocol approach in managing women with severe disease due to hypertension in pregnancy: a before and after study. Reprod Health. 2005;30:1–7
  23. Pattinson RC, Macdonald AP, Backer F, et al. The effect of audit on critically ill women. Clin Gov Int J. 2006;11(4):278–288MPS Special Issue – Making and Sustaining a Difference
  24. Fawcus S, Mbombo N-F, Hofmeyr J. Obstetric haemorrhage. In Pattinson RC (ed.) Saving mothers 2005–2007: Fourth report on Confidential enquiries into maternal deaths in South Africa, Goverment Prinyter Pretoria, in press.
  25. Prendiville WJ, Elbourne D, McDonald S. Active versus expectant management in the third stage of labour. In:  Hofmeyr GJ,  Neilson JP,  Alfirevic Z,  Crowther CA,  Duley L,  Gülmezoglu M,  Gyte GML,  Hodnett ED editor. A Cochrane pocketbook pregnancy and childbirth. John Wiley and Sons; 2007;p. 268–269
  26. Mousa HA, Alfirevic Z. Treatment for primary postpartum haemorrhage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(Issue 1):Art. No.: CD003249
  27. Cotter A, Ness A, Tolosa J. Prophylactic oxytocin for the third stage of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(Issue 4):Art. No.: CD001808
  28. McDonald SJ, Abbott JM, Higgins SP. Prophylactic ergometrine-oxytocin versus oxytocin for the third stage of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(Issue 1):Art. No.: CD000201
  29. Liabsuetrakul T, Choobun T, Peeyananjarassri K, et al. Prophylactic use of ergot alkaloids in the third stage of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(Issue 2):Art. No.: CD005456
  30. Gülmezoglu AM, Forna F, Villar J, et al. Prostaglandins for preventing postpartum haemorrhage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(Issue 3):Art. No.: CD000494
  31. WHO recommendations for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage. WHO Press; 2007;
  32. Breathnach F, Geary M. Standard medical therapy. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A textbook of postpartum hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 256–262
  33. Walvaren G, Wanyonyi S, Stones W. Management of post-partum hemorrhage in low income countries. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2008;22:1013–1023
  34. Hofmeyr GJ, Gülmezoglu AM. Misoprostol for the prevention and treatment of post partum haemorrhage. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2008;22:1025–1041
  35. Ferrazzani S, Guariglia L, Dell'Aquila C. The balloon internal uterine tamponade as a diagnostic test. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A Textbook of postpartum hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 268–276
  36. Danso D, Reginaldd PW. Internal uterine tamponade. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A Textbook of postpartum hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 263–267
  37. Doumouchtsis SK, Papageorghiou AT, Vernier C, et al. Management of postpartum hemorrhage by uterine balloon tamponade: Prospective evaluation of effectiveness. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2008;87:849–855
  38. B-Lynch C. Conservative surgical management. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A Textbook of postpartum hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 287–298
  39. Habeck D, Kulas T, Bobic-Vukovic M, et al. Successful of the B-Lynch compression suture in the management of massive postpartum hemorrhage: case reports and review. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2006;273:307–309
  40. AbdRabbo SA. Stepwise uterine devascularization:a novel technique for management of uncontrolled postpartum hemorrhage with preservation of the uterus. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1994;171:694–700
  41. B-Lynch C, Keith LG, Campbell WB. Internal iliac (hypogastric) artery ligation. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A Textbook of postpartum hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 299–307
  42. Catlling S, Thomas D. Intraoperative autologous blood transfusion. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A Textbook of postpartum hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 421–426
  43. Winogard RH. Uterine artery embolization for postpartum hemorrhage. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2008;22:1119–1132
  44. Choji K, Shmizu T. Embolization. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A Textbook of postpartum hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 299–307
  45. Draycott T, Sibanda T, Owen L, et al. Does training in obstetric emergencies improve neonatal outcome?. Br J Obstet Gynecol. 2006;113:177–182
  46. Draycott TJ, Crofts JF, Wilson LV, et al. Improving neonatal outcome through practical shoulder dystocia training. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;112:14–20
  47. Johanson RB, Menon V, Burns E, et al. Managing Obstetrics Emergencies and Trauma (MOET) structured skills training in Armenia, utilizing models and reality based scenarios. BMC Med Educ. 2002;2:1–5http://www.biomedcentral.com1472-6920/2/5
  48. Johannson H, Ayida G, Sadler C. Faking it? Simulation in the training of obstetricians and gynaecologists. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2005;17:557–561
  49. Anderson ER, Black R, Brockelhurst P. Acute obstetric emergency drill in England and Wales: a survey of practice. Br J Obstet Gynecol. 2005;112:372–375
  50. Tipples M, Paterson Brown S. Labor ward drills. In:  B-Lynch C,  Keith LG,  Lalonde AB,  Karoshi M editor. A textbook of postpartum hemorrhage. A comprehensive guide to evaluation, management and surgical intervention. 1st edn. Sapiens Publishing; 2006;p. 127–135
  51. Cameron CA, Robberts CL, Bell J, et al. Getting an evidence-based post-partum haemorrhage protocol into practice. Aus N Z J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;47:169–175
  52. Cecatti JG, Souza JP, Parpinelli MA, et al. Research on severe maternal morbidities and near-misses in Brazil: What we have learned. Reprod Health Matters. 2007;15:125–133
  53. Souza JP, Cecatti JG, Parpinelli MA, et al. Appropriate criteria for identification of near-miss maternal morbidity in tertiary care facilities: A cross sectional study. BMC Preg Childbirth. 2007;20:1–8

PII: S1521-6934(09)00009-1

doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2009.01.006

Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 23, Issue 3 , Pages 317-326 , June 2009