Major obstetric hemorrhage

Abstract

Major obstetric hemorrhage is a challenge for anesthesiologists because it remains responsible for over 10% of maternal deaths in high-income countries. A standardized multidisciplinary management, described in locally validated protocols and based on international guidelines is mandatory to prevent these deaths. The first difficulty relies on the systematic underestimation of the bleeding. Collection bags must be used to facilitate the diagnosis and therefore rapid management. The etiologies in antenatal or postpartum must be well-known in order to be treated adequately. A rapid recourse to prostaglandins (sulprostone in France) may reverse uterine atony. Invasive approach with surgery or radiology should be promptly implemented (uterine artery or internal iliac artery ligations±uterus plication) and hysterectomy should then be timely considered. Simultaneously, early and aggressive resuscitation with large-bore venous accesses should be implemented for rapid and massive transfusion (4:4:1 RBC:FFP:platelets ratio), along with an early use of fibrinogen concentrates and tranexamic acid. This transfusion strategy may be then guided by thromboelastography or thromboelastometry and bedside hemoglobin measurements. Activated factor VII remains indicated only before or after hysterectomy in case of uncontrolled bleeding. Management of placentation abnormalities (placenta previa, accreta, increta, percreta) must be well mastered as these etiologies may generate cataclysmic hemorrhages that can be and have to be anticipated.