Risk Factors, Management and Complications of Severe Post-partum Hemorrhage

Post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) still remains one of leading causes of morbidity in the obstetric population and a recent report from the United Kingdom revealed that hemorrhage is the sixth most important direct cause of maternal mortality. During labor, the blood flow in the uterus increases and obstetric hemorrhage may quickly turn to massive bleeding requiring massive transfusion of allogeneic blood products. Although introduction of massive transfusion protocols (MTP) may have improved survival in trauma patients, administration of allogeneic blood products, although life-saving, is also associated with considerable side effects. That is why a stepwise progressive approach and implementation of treatment protocols describing the timely use of different pharmacological agents and surgical or radiological interventions are called for. Risk factors for blood transfusion (as a surrogate marker for PPH) at delivery in Finland have been recently studied , and the results seem to be in consonance with reports from several developed countries, which demonstrate a marked increase in incidence of PPH. However, the causes for the increase in postpartum hemorrhage remain at least partly unclear. Also, complication rates of blood transfusion and other adverse outcomes in the treatment of an obstetric patient with severe bleeding are not very recently studied (19). Identification of PPH risk factors, change in transfusion strategies and surgical techniques and implementation of holistic treatment protocols may have had an effect on the complication rate, costs and total amount of blood product usage and bleeding, but to investigators' knowledge, these are underreported in current studies.That is why it seems justified to examine a cohort of parturients with severe PPH under a long time span to find out whether the change in practice is reflected in patients' outcome.

From 2009 to December 2015, all patients having a marked post-partum hemorrhage (estimated blood loss 1500ml) will be tracked from Tampere University hospital's computerized perinatal database (iPana). Approximate number of patients is 900: according to the database, the incidence of severe PPH in our hospital is 130-160/year. General patient characteristics will be recorded: age, weight, height, parity, gestational age, previous deliveries and cesarean sections, chronic diseases, complications and medication during pregnancy. The mode of delivery, labour characteristics (duration, interval between PROM and delivery, chorioamnionitis), use of uterotonic agents and diagnoses of obstetric disease will be recorded (e.g. placental abnormalities). Laboratory parameters during treatment of PPH will be collected: a baseline aPTT, PT (INR), Fibrinogen concentration, ATIII, Hb, platelet count and respective (lowest) values during treatment of PPH and blood gas analysis information, especially lowest base excess and lactate and lowest ca-ion. Other possible factors affecting hemostasis such as body temperature, hemodynamic parameters during resuscitation and surgical treatment will be searched from medical records. Total amount of bleeding and allogeneic blood products, fibrinogen concentrate, prothrombin complex concentrate, FXIII and recombinant factor VII consumption will be recorded as primary end points. As secondary endpoints, the number of emergency hysterectomies, intensive care admissions, transfusion-related side effects and thromboembolic complications will be studied and recorded up to 30 days after delivery.

The investigators' aim is to identify risk factors for severe PPH (ie. estimated blood loss more than 1500ml during delivery) and examine the possible change in blood transfusion strategies and its effect on bleeding (for example, implementation of massive transfusion protocol, amount of blood products used, effect of red blood cell:fresh-frozen plasma ratio, use of pharmacological agents for coagulation management, introduction of new angiological and surgical techniques etc.) and complications, laboratory parameters and patient outcome.