Postpartum Haemmorhage Flashcards
Define Primary Postpartum Haemorrhage
- excessive bleeding in the first 24 hours post birth
- usually considered as >500mL after vaginal birth and >1000mL after C/S
- or showing signs of haemodynamic compromise (usually >1000mL, shock, tachycardia, hypotension)
What is considered severe PPH?
> 1000mL estimated blood loss
What is very severe or major PPH?
> 2500mL estimated blood loss
What 4 factors make a woman more likely to show signs of haemodynamic compromise?
- gestational hypertension with proteinuria
- Anaemia
- Dehydration
- Small stature
What is Secondary Postpartum Haemorrhage?
excessive bleeding (>500mL) that occurs between 24 hours post birth and 6 weeks postnatally
What are the 4 causes of PPH?
- Tone
- Tissue
- Trauma
- Thrombin (clotting disorders)
What are the common risk factors for PPH?
Tone - prolonged labour - precipitate labour - grand multiparity - multiple pregnancy - polyhydraminos - macrosomia - fibroids - intrauterine infection - uterine relaxing agents (MgSO4, general anaesthetic, tocolytics) Trauma - operative birth - cervical/vaginal lacerations Tissue - retained placenta - abnormal placentation Thrombin - Pre-eclampsia - HEELP Syndrome - placental abruption - FDIU - Bleeding disorders - Drugs (aspirin/heparin)
What is meant by establishing IV access?
inserting 2 large bore (16G) cannulae
What blood tests are important investigations in PPH management?
- Blood group
- Antibody screen
- Full blood count
- Coagulation screening (INR, APTT, fibrinogen)
Assessment (early recognition, signs/symptoms)
Communication (Call for help, effective teamwork, support for woman and her support people)
Management (resuscitation, vital signs, IV access, monitoring blood loss, oxygen saturation
Investigation
Call for help
What management is necessary for PPH where the placenta has not been born?
- call for HELP
- reassure woman
- position woman flat/lateral
- monitor vital signs (heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure and temperature), oxygen saturation and blood loss
- consider oxygen by mask (8-12L)
- keep woman warm
- IV access
- catheter
- repeat oxytocin (another 10IU IM or IV, don’t give syntometrine/ergometrine as it may prevent birth of the placenta)
- attempt to birth placenta by controlled cord traction and massage uterus once emptied
- monitor fundal tone
- check placenta for completeness
- consider tone, tissue, trauma, thrombin
- if unsuccessful portable ultrasound, prepare for manual removal of placenta, transfer to theatre
What management is needed for PPH if the placenta has been born?
- call for HELP (and appropriate equipment)
- reassure woman
- position woman flat/lateral
- massage uterus
- if no contraindications, 250mcg ergometrine IV (or 10IU oxytocin IV if hypertensive) can repeat after 2-3 minutes
- catheter
- IV access + collect blood
- monitor vital signs (heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure and temperature), oxygen saturation and blood loss
- oxytocin infusion (40IU/1000mL IV)
- 800-1000mcg (4-5 x 200mcg tablets) misoprostol PR
OR intramyometrial injection of Prostaglandin F2a (dinoprost) - consider oxygen by mask (8-12L)
- keep woman warm
- assess tissue (check placenta for completeness)
- assess trauma (check episiotomy or tears)
- assess thrombin (coagulation studies, are there any risk factors for clotting issues?)
- IV fluids or blood transfusion
- if bleeding continues consider bimanual compression, or aortocaval compression, transfer to theatre for examination under aesthetic and further treatment
What is the usual dose of ergometrine in the management of PPH?
- 250 micrograms
- repeat after 2-3 minutes if bleeding continues
- maximum of 4 doses (1mg)
What are the usual routes of administration for ergometrine?
IV or IM
What are the side effects of ergometrine?
- tonic uterine contraction
- nausea and vomiting
- hypertension
- rarely gangrene at site and convulsions
- cna reduce prolactin levels so potential for delayed lactogenesis
When should ergometrine not be given?
- if placenta has not been born
- severe hypertension or cardiac disease
- hypersensitivity to ergometrine
What drug is often given with ergometrine to prevent nausea/vomiting?
metoclopramide 10mg IV
What is the usual protocol for giving oxytocin in the management of PPH?
- 10IU/1ml IM or IV for active managment of 3rd stage
- may give repeat bolus of 10IU IM or IV (instead of ergometrine if placenta has not been born or if blood pressure is elevated)
- 40IU in 1000mL of sodium chloride 0.9% IV infusion at rate of 250mL/hour if placenta has been born
What is the usual dose of misoprostol in the management of PPH?
800 to 1000 micrograms PR (4-5 tablets)
What is the usual stock strength of misoprostol given PR?
200 microgram tablets
What are the side effects of misoprostol? When should it not be given?
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhoea
- abdominal pain
- headache
- flushing
- chills
- pyrexia
- hypersensitivity to misoprostol
- may cause GI upset in infant due to transfer in breastmilk
When is misoprostol given in management of PPH?
when neither oxytocin or ergometrine are successful at stopping bleeding
Other than oxytocin, ergometrine and misoprostol, what drugs may be given in managing PPH?
- prostaglandin F2a intramyometrial injection
- syntometrine (oxytocin and ergometrine)
What are the main complications of major PPH?
- shock
- anaemia
- clotting disorders
- organ damage (particularly lung injury and renal failure)