Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 24, Issue 3 , Pages 353-365 , June 2010

Challenges of major obstetric haemorrhage

  • Arlene Wise, FRCA (Consultant Obstetric Anaesthetist)

      Affiliations

    • Her interests include high-dependency care in obstetrics and training in skills and drills. Tel.: +44 131 536 1000.
    • ,
  • Vicki Clark, FRCA (Consultant Obstetric Anaesthetist)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44 131 536 1000; Fax: +44 1312423174.
    • She has served on the committee of the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association and her interests include regional anaesthesia, fibre-optic intubation, teaching and audit.

References 

  1. Maternal Mortality in 2005: estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the World Bank. World Health Organisation.
  2. The millennium development goals report. New York 2009: United Nations; 2009;
  3. Ronsmans C, Graham W. Maternal mortality: who, when, where and why. Lancet. 2006;368:1189–1200
  4. Confidential Enquiries into Maternal and Child Health 2000–2002. RCOG Press.
  5. Joint Statement . Prevention and treatment of post-partum haemorrhage new advances for low resource settings. International Confederation of Midwives and International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians. www.figo.org
  6. Joint Statement . Management of the third stage of labour to prevent post-partum haemorrhage. International Confederation of Midwives and International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians. www.figo.org
  7. Towards better birth. A review of maternity services in England. Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection 2008.
  8. Scottish Confidential Audit of Severe Maternal Morbidity. 5th Annual Report 2007. Reproductive Health Programme, NHS QIS.
  9. Confidential Enquiries into Maternal and Child Health 2003–2005. RCOG Press.
  10. Carroli G, Cuesta C, Abalos E, et al. Epidemiology of post-partum haemorrhage: a systematic review. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2008;22:999–1012
  11. Knight M, Kurinczuk J, Spark P, et al. Cesarean delivery and peripartum hysterectomy. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;111:97–105
  12. Knight M. Peripartum hysterectomy in the UK: management and outcomes of the associated haemorrhage. BJOG. 2007;114:1380–1387
  13. Chandraharan E, Arkulkumaran S. Surgical aspects of post-partum haemorrhage. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2008;22:1089–1102
  14. Miller S, Martin H, Morris J. Anti-shock garment in post-partum haemorrhage. Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2008;22:1057–1074
  15. British Committee for Standards in Haematology . Guidelines on the management of massive blood loss. Br J Haematol. 2006;135:634–641
  16. Theusinger O, Spahn D, Ganter M. Transfusion in trauma: why and how should we change our current practice?. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2009;22:305–312
  17. Cotton B, Au B, Nunez T, et al. Predefined massive transfusion protocols are associated with a reduction in organ failure and post injury complication. J Trauma. 2009;66:41–49
  18. Spinella P, Perkins J, Grathwohl K, et al. Warm fresh whole blood is independently associated with improved survival for patients with combat-related traumatic injuries. J Trauma. 2009;66:S69–S76
  19. Hofmeyer G, Gulmezoglu A. Misoprostol for the prevention and treatment of post-partum haemorrhage. Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2008;22:1025–1041
  20. Peters N, Duvekot J. Carbetocin for the prevention of post-partum haemorrhage A systematic review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2009;64:129–135
  21. Su L-L, Chong Y-S, Samuel M. Oxytocin agonists for preventing postpartum haemorrhage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;Issue 3. Art. No.: CD005457
  22. Nirmala K, Zainuddin A, Ghani N, et al. Carbetocin versus syntometrine in prevention of post-partum haemorrhage following vaginal delivery. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2009;35:48–54doi:10.111/j.1447-0756.2008.00829.x
  23. Prevention and management of post-partum haemorrhage, RCOG Green-top Guideline No.52. RCOG; May 2009;
  24. Harber C, Levy D, Chidambaram S, et al. Life threatening broncho-spasm after intramuscular carboprost for postpartum haemorrhage. BJOG. 2007;114:366–368
  25. Doumouchtsis S, Papageorghiou A, Arulkumaran S. Systematic review of conservative management of post-partum haemorrhage: what to do when medical treatment fails. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 2007;62:540–547
  26. Therapies or prophylaxis for peripartum haemorrhage. http://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/ukoss/current-surveillance
  27. Doumouchtsis S, Papageorghiou A, Vernier C, et al. Management of post-partum haemorrhage by uterine balloon tamponade: prospective evaluation of effectiveness. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2008;87:849–855
  28. Georgiou C. Balloon tamponade in management of post-partum haemorrhage: a review. BJOG. 2009;116:748–757
  29. B-Lynch C, Coker A, Lawal A, et al. The B-Lynch surgical technique for the control of massive post-partum haemorrhage: an alternative to hysterectomy? Five case reports. BJOG. 1997;104:372–375
  30. Ghezzi F, Cromi A, Uccella S, et al. The Hayman technique: a simple method to treat post-partum haemorrhage. BJOG. 2007;114:362–365
  31. Cho . Haemostatic suturing technique for uterine bleeding during caesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 2000;96:129–131
  32. Ochoa M, Allaire A, Stitely M. Pyometria after haemostatic square suture technique. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;99:506–509
  33. Gottlieb A, Pandipati S, Davis K, et al. Uterine necrosis: A complication of uterine compression suture. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;112:429;431
  34. Baskett T. Uterine compression sutures for post-partum haemorrhage efficacy. Morbidity and Subsequent Pregnancy Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2007;110(1):68–71
  35. Joshi V, Otiv S, Majumder R, et al. Internal Iliac arterial ligation for arresting postpartum haemorrhage. BJOG. 2007;114:356–361
  36. Serious hazards of transfusion. www.shotuk.org
  37. Sullivan I, Faulds J, Ralph C. Contamination of salvaged maternal blood by amniotic fluid and fetal red cells during elective caesarean section. BJA. 2008;101:225–229
  38. Rainaldi M, Tazzari P, Scagliarini G, et al. Blood salvage during caesarean section. BJA. 1998;80:195–198
  39. Intraoperative blood cell salvage in obstetrics. National Institute for Clinical Excellence; November 2005;
  40. OAA/AAGBI Guidelines for Obstetric Anaesthetic Services Revised Edition 2005.
  41. Harkness M, Clark V. The use of cell salvage during obstetric procedures: an audit of Scotland's maternity units. Scott Med J. 2008;53:24–27
  42. Teig M, Harkness M, Catling S, et al. Survey of cell-salvage use in obstetrics in the UK. IJOA. 2007;1:S30
  43. Dharmarajah A, Bedson R, McSporran W, et al. Introducing cell salvage in obstetric practice: the first year's experience. IJOA. 2008;OAA AGM Posters P75
  44. Cell salvage in obstetrics: the time has come. BJOG. 2005;112:131–132
  45. Catling S. Blood conservation techniques in obstetrics: a UK perspective. IJOA. 2007;16:241–249
  46. Geoghegan J, Daniels J, Moore P, et al. Cell salvage at caesarean section: the need for an evidence-based approach. BJOG. 2009;116:743–747
  47. The role of emergency and elective interventional radiology in post-partum haemorrhage. Good Practice No.6. June 2007;
  48. Healthcare Commission . http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/_db/_documents/Northwick_tagged.pdf
  49. Mok M, Heidemann B, Dundas K, et al. Interventional radiology in women with suspected placenta accreta undergoing caesarean section. IJOA. 2008;17:255–261
  50. Timmermans S, Arjanneke C, Duvekot J. Conservative management of abnormally invasive placentation. Obstetrical and Gynaecological Survey. 2007;62:529–539
  51. Kayem G, Davy C, Goffinet F. Conservative versus extirpative management in cases of placenta accreta. Obstet Gynecol. 2004;104:531–536
  52. Lee P, Bakelaar R, Fitzpatrick C, et al. Medical and surgical treatment of placenta percreta to optimize bladder preservation. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;112:421–424
  53. Hays A, Worley K, Roberts S. conservative management of placenta percreta: experiences in two cases. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;112:425–426
  54. Mussalli g, Shah J, Berck D, et al. Placenta accreta and methorexate therapy: three case reports. J Perinatol. 2000;5:331–334
  55. Fraser I, Porte R, Kouides P, et al. A benefit-risk review of systematic haemostatic agents in major surgery. Drug Safety. 2008;31:217–230
  56. Henry D, Carless P, Moxey A, et al. Antifibrinolytic use for minimising perioperative allogenic blood transfusion. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;CD001886
  57. Sekhavat L, Tabatabaii A, Dalili M, et al. Efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss after caesarean section. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2009;22:72–75
  58. Alfirevic Z, Elbourne D, Pavord S, et al. The Northern European Registry 2000-2004. Use of recombinant activated factor VII in primary post-partum haemorrhage. Obstet Gynecol. 2007;110:1270–1278
  59. Karalpillai D, Popham P. Recombinant factor VIIa in massive postpartum haemorrhage. IJOA. 2007;16:29–34
  60. Ahonen J, Jokela R, Korttila K. An open nonrandomised study of recombinant factor VIIa in major postpartum haemorrhage. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2007;51:929–939
  61. Welsh A, McLintock C. Gatt S at al. Guidelines for the use of recombinant factior VII in massive obstetric haemorrhage. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2008;48:12–16
  62. McMorrow R, Ryan S, Blunnie W, et al. Use of recombinant factor VIIa in massive post-partum haemorrhage. European Journal of Anaesthesiology. 2008;25:293–298
  63. Fenger-Eriksen C, Lindberg-Larsen M, Christensen A, et al. Fibrinogen concentrate substitution therapy in patients with massive haemorrhage and low plasma fibrinogen concentrations. BJA. 2008;101:767–773
  64. Bell S, Collins P, Collis R. The use of fibrinogen concentrate to rapidly correct hypofibrinogenaemia during obstetric haemorrhage. IJOA. 2008;17:S1–S58
  65. Moriarty K, Premila S, Bulmer P. Use of Floseal haemostatic gel in massive obstetric haemorrhage: a case report. BJOG. 2008;115:793–795
  66. Tocce IK, Thomas V, Teal S. Scheduled hysterectomy for second-trimester abortion in a patient with placenta accreta. Obstet Gynecol. 2009;113:568–570
  67. Warshak C, Eskander R, Hull A, et al. Accuracy of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of placenta accreta. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2006;108:573–581
  68. Placenta praevia and placenta praevia accreta: diagnosis and management. RCOG Guideline No.27. October 2005;
  69. Bodner L, Nosher J, Gribbin C, et al. Balloon-assisted occlusion of the internal iliac arteries in patients with placenta accreta/percreta. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2006;29:354–361
  70. Shrivastava V, Nageotte M, Major C, et al. Case-control comparison of caesarean hysterectomy with and without prophylactic placement of intravascular balloon catheters for placenta accrete. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;197:402.e1–5.
  71. Van Wolfswinkel M, Zwart J, Schutte J, et al. Maternal morbidity and serious maternal morbidity in Jehovah's witnesses in the Netherlands. BJOG. 2000;116:1103–1110
  72. Walpole R, Clark V. How to organise a major obstetric haemorrhage "fire drill. CPD Anaesthesia. 2002;4:15–17
  73. Managing obstetric emergency and trauma course. www.alsg.org/
  74. Advanced Life Support Training in Obstetrics course. www.also.org.uk/
  75. IMPAC . Managing Complication in Pregnancy and Childbirth. www.who.int/reprouctive-health/impac
  76. Mukherjee S, Arulkumaran S. Post-partum haemorrhage. Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Med. 2009;19:121–126
  77. Parekh N, Husaini S, Russell I. Caesarean section for placenta praevia: a retrospective study of anaesthetic management. BJA. 2000;84:725–730
  78. Hong J-Y, Lee y-S, Yoon H-J, et al. Comparison of general and epidural anaesthesia in elective caesarean section for placenta praevia totalis: maternal haemodynamics, blood loss and neonatal outcome. IJOA. 2003;12:12–16

PII: S1521-6934(09)00150-3

doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2009.11.011

Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 24, Issue 3 , Pages 353-365 , June 2010

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution