A comprehensive approach to the prevention and treatment of massive obstetric hemorrhage

Abstract

In the case of progression of obstetric haemorrhage (OH) and non-effective preventive and therapeutic measures during childbirth and after delivery, the volume of blood loss can increase and exceed > 1.5% of body weight (25–30% of circulating blood volume – CBV). In such cases that we are talking about massive obstetric haemorrhage (MOH), which leads to an increase in the frequency of maternal morbidity and mortality.The objective: determine the effectiveness of various approaches to the restoration of blood loss in the cases of MOH development, which occurred to various etiological factors, with the introduction of the modern concept of damage control resuscitation (DCR) and innovative methods of surgical hemostasis.Materials and methods. During 2015–2023 years at five clinical bases of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology N1 of Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine we analyzed 165 cases of MOH. In all MOH cases, an integrated approach was used to stop haemorrhage using both drug therapy and modern methods of surgical hemostasis in accordance with the regulatory documents of the Ukrainian Ministry of Healthcare.In main group of 59 women in labor with the MOH (2020–2023 years) an integrated approach to stop haemorrhage and restore the blood loss according to DCR concept with the priority of high-quality and rapid CBV restoration with blood products and minimization of infusion therapy was used. The comparison group consisted of 106 women in labor with MOH (2015–2019 years) and similar methods of haemorrhage termination to restore blood loss in accordance with the order N 205 of the Ukrainian Ministry of Healthcare «Obstetric haemorrhage» with the priority of rapid restoration of blood loss by crystalloids (during 2015–2019 years).Results. The mean blood loss, time till haemorrhage is stopped, and the duration of surgery in the main group were significantly lower than in the comparison group (p<0.05). In the postpartum period the number of cases with severe anemia was significantly more often in the comparison group – 47.2% versus 11.9% in the main group (OR 6.6 CI 2.7–15.9; p<0.01), as well as the frequency of hysterectomy – 50.9% versus 28.8% (OR 2.6 CI 1.3–5.1; p<0.01).An early onset and a significantly higher rate of transfusions of fresh frozen plasma and erythrocyte mass were found in the main group – respectively 88.1% versus 38.7% in the comparison group (OR 11.7, CI: 4.8–28.4; p<0.001). This resulted in a significantly lower volume of blood loss, duration of surgical intervention, and average time for haemorrhage stop in the main group compared to the comparison group (p<0.05).Conclusions. The use of modern uterotonic agents (carbetocin), tranexamic acid preparations, innovative surgical technologies and early initiation of transfusion therapy with blood preparations with minimization of crystalloid infusion and according to the DCR concept for the development of MOH allows to reduce the volume of blood loss, the frequency of severe postpartum complications, and to prevent maternal morbidity and death.