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Postpartum haemorrhage

Last reviewed: 21 Oct 2024
Last updated: 18 Apr 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • estimated blood loss (EBL) ≥500 mL within 24 hours of birth
  • uterine atony
  • obstetric lacerations and/or expanding haematomas
  • signs of hypovolaemia
  • retained tissue (placenta, membranes, or placenta accreta spectrum)
  • uterine defect on bimanual examination
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • symptoms of hypovolaemia
  • uterine tenderness (secondary PPH)
  • signs of infection, e.g., fever (secondary PPH)
Full details

Risk factors

  • placenta previa/low lying placenta
  • placenta accreta spectrum
  • platelet count <50 × 10⁹/L (<50,000 per microlitre)
  • active antepartum bleeding
  • inherited coagulopathy
  • acquired coagulopathy
  • history of PPH in prior delivery
  • operative (assisted) vaginal delivery
  • current use of therapeutic anticoagulation
  • prior caesarean delivery, uterine surgery, or multiple laparotomies
  • uterine overdistension (multiple gestation, polyhydramnios, fetal macrosomia with estimated fetal weight >4000 g)
  • grand multiparity (>4 prior births)
  • large uterine myomas
  • class III obesity (BMI >40)
  • pre-existing maternal anaemia
  • prolonged labour or precipitous delivery
  • labour induction or augmentation with prolonged use of oxytocin
  • magnesium sulfate use
  • caesarean delivery
  • placental abruption
  • severe pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome
  • intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD)
  • intrapartum infection
  • SSRI or SNRI use in the month before delivery
Full details

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • quantification of blood loss
  • blood type and cross-match
  • FBC
  • coagulation profile (PT, PTT, INR, fibrinogen)
Full details

Investigations to consider

  • uterine ultrasound
  • inherited coagulation assays
  • diagnostic laparotomy
  • CT abdomen/pelvis
  • vaginal microbiology (secondary PPH)
Full details

Emerging tests

  • thromboelastography (TEG) or rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®)
  • app-based blood loss quantification technology

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

primary postpartum haemorrhage: initial presentation

primary postpartum haemorrhage: refractory to initial interventions

secondary postpartum haemorrhage

ONGOING

postpartum haemorrhage resolved

Contributors

Authors

Dena Goffman, MD

Vice Chair for Quality and Patient Safety

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York

NY

Disclosures

DG declares ongoing advisory board roles for Cooper Surgical Obstetrical Safety Council and Organon Jada Scientific Advisory Board; prior PPH educational speaker roles for PRIME, Haymarket, and Laborie; principal investigator for Treating Abnormal Postpartum Uterine Bleeding or Postpartum Hemorrhage with the Jada System-A Postmarket Registry 6/2021 (grant money paid to institution); NIH grant money paid to institution for Effectiveness of Pictographs to Prevent Wrong-Patient Errors in the NICU, and MPI Simulation for Attending Obstetricians to Improve Technical Skills for Managing Postpartum Hemorrhage; none of the above included an obligation to speak on or disseminate product information.

Lilly Liu, MD, MPH

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York

NY

Disclosures

LL declares that she has no competing interests.

Lisa Nathan, MD

Chief of Obstetrics

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York

NY

Disclosures

LN has been paid to speak at an Organon symposium on the Jada System for obstetric hemorrhage management.

Peer reviewers

John C. Smulian, MD, MPH

Chair

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

University of Florida College of Medicine

Gainesville

FL

Disclosures

JCS declares that he has no competing interests.

Dilly O. C. Anumba, MBBS, MD, FRCOG, FWACS, LLM

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

University of Sheffield

Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetomaternal Medicine

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sheffield

UK

Disclosures

DOCA declares that he has no competing interests.

  • Postpartum haemorrhage images
  • Guidelines

    • Prevention and management of postpartum haemorrhage (green-top guideline no. 52)
    • WHO recommendations for the prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage
    More Guidelines
  • Videos

    Female urethral catheterisation animated demonstration

    Venepuncture and phlebotomy animated demonstration

    More videos
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