title: Transfusion of blood and blood component therapy for postpartum haemorrhage at a tertiary referral center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the practice of transfusion of blood and blood products in cases of postpartum haemorrhage, at a tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted where medical records were reviewed for women, who either delivered or were admitted in labour suite with diagnosis of postpartum haemorrhage. The study period extended from Jan 2008 to Oct 2009. During a period of 22 months, records were reviewed for transfusion of blood and blood products in above group of women. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, a total of 4744 patients were admitted in the labour suite. A total of 113 (2.36%) women were diagnosed with Post partum haemorrhage. Uterine atony was the commonest cause of PPH, followed by genital tract trauma. A total of 81 (71%) women received transfusion of blood and blood components (1.6%). The mean blood loss was 1088 ml (+/- 584 ml). Transfusion of blood and blood component therapy was significantly more in women who underwent caesarean section, compared to those women who delivered vaginally. There was one case of acute tubular necrosis due to PPH, and seven maternal deaths. The mean hospital stay was of +/- 3 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this hospital based study, the prevalence of PPH was 2.36%, and the rate of transfusion of blood and blood products was 1.6%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Unit, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nazli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Tahira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Nazeer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Nusrat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Nusrat Hassan
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008499:Medical Records; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014593:Uterine Inertia / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult