title: Identifying the obstetric patient at high risk of multiple-unit blood transfusions.
abstract: We sought to characterize the obstetric patient who required more than the 1 or 2 units of blood products typically available by autologous donation. Medical records from 1988 were reviewed retrospectively. During this period, 16,462 deliveries were performed. Twenty-seven patients (0.16%) received more than 2 units of blood products during their pregnancies. The most common diagnoses associated with a transfusion were placenta previa (10), uterine atony (8) and abruption (5). Platelets, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate were administered to 7, 12 and 4 patients, respectively. An antepartum condition associated with hemorrhage was identified in only 11 of the 27 patients (41%) who received greater than or equal to 3 units of blood products. The remainder of the cases were not diagnosed during the antepartum period, when autologous donation is an option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Greenspoon
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors