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Postpartum hemorrhage
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of postpartum hemorrhage are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP 2024,2017), the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC 2023), the British Society for Haematology (BSH 2022,2018), the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO 2022), the Society of Obstetricians ...
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Classification and risk stratification
Diagnostic investigations
Physical examination: as per FIGO 2022 guidelines, obtain postpartum abdominal uterine tonus assessment for early identification of uterine atony in all patients.
E
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Blood loss estimation
Viscoelastic testing
Medical management
Multidisciplinary care: as per SOGC 2022 guidelines, use a multidisciplinary team approach consisting of obstetrics, anesthesia, nursing, and transfusion medicine for the management of severe obstetrical hemorrhage.
A
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General principles
Initial resuscitation
Uterotonics
Tranexamic acid
Fibrinogen replacement
Recombinant activated factor VII
Management of secondary PPH
Management of posthemorrhagic anemia
Inpatient care
Hemodynamic monitoring: as per RCOG 2017 guidelines, obtain the following monitoring and investigations in major PPH (blood loss > 1,000 mL) and ongoing hemorrhage or clinical shock:
perform immediate venipuncture (20 mL) for cross-match (4 units minimum), CBC, coagulation screen including fibrinogen, renal and liver function for baseline
monitor temperature every 15 minutes
record pulse, BP and respiratory rate continuously (using oximeter, ECG and automated BP recording)
place a Foley catheter to monitor urine output
place 2 peripheral cannulae (14-gauge)
consider monitoring arterial line (once appropriately experienced staff available for insertion)
consider transfer to ICU once the bleeding is controlled or monitoring at high dependency unit on delivery suite, if appropriate
record parameters on a MEOWS chart
act and escalate promptly when abnormal scores from a MEOWS chart are observed
document fluid balance, blood/blood products and procedures.
B
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Coagulation monitoring
Nonpharmacologic interventions
Uterine massage/compression
As per FIGO 2022 guidelines:
Perform uterine massage for the management of PPH.
E
Perform bimanual uterine compression or external aortic compression for the management of PPH due to uterine atony after vaginal birth as a temporizing measure until appropriate care is available.
E
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Non-pneumatic anti-shock garment
Therapeutic procedures
Blood product transfusion, strategy
As per SOGC 2022 guidelines:
Administer 4 units of RBCs before other blood products in patients with active bleeding approaching the maximum allowable blood loss, unless the patient has a coagulation defect.
B
Consider using a massive hemorrhage protocol with ratios of RBCs-to-FFP-to-platelets of 1:1:1: or 2:1:1, in the absence of timely laboratory results.
B
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Blood product transfusion (cell salvage)
Uterine packing
Uterine balloon tamponade
Uterine artery embolization
Surgical interventions
Indications for surgery: as per FIGO 2022 guidelines, perform surgical interventions, including compression suture techniques, uterine and hypogastric artery ligation, or hysterectomy, if bleeding does not stop despite treatment with uterotonics and other available conservative interventions (such as uterine massage, balloon tamponade).
E
Patient education
Communication with the patient
As per RCOG 2017 guidelines:
Ensure communication with the patient and her birthing partner and provide clear information of what is happening.
E
Offer an opportunity to discuss the events surrounding the obstetric hemorrhage to the woman (possibly with her birthing partner) at a mutually convenient time.
E
Preventative measures
Management of risk factors: as per SOGC 2022 guidelines, identify both antenatal and postnatal anemia and treat it aggressively.
A
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Active management of labor
Prophylactic uterotonics
Prophylactic tranexamic acid
Avoidance of episiotomy
Umbilical cord clamping
Placental cord drainage
Delivery of placenta
Uterine massage
Quality improvement
Hospital requirements and protocols
As per SOGC 2022 guidelines:
Implement an obstetrical massive hemorrhage protocol, including defined roles and responsibilities of each team member.
B
Conduct simulation training with all multidisciplinary team members regularly, ideally by a trained facilitator.
A