Postpartum Haemorrhage

Explanation :

• Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a complication of delivery and the most common cause of maternal death, accounting for about 35% of all maternal deaths worldwide.
• PPH is commonly defined as a blood loss of 500 ml or more within 24 hours after birth, while severe PPH is defined as a blood loss of 1000 ml or more within the same time frame according to World Health Organisation (WHO).
• It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality with in the first 24 hours following delivery and this is regarded as primary PPH: whereas any excessive bleeding from the birth canal occurring between 24 hours and 12 weeks postnatally (after delivery) is termed as secondary PPH.

Causes

• Uterine atony
• Genital trauma
• Coagulation problem

Treatment

• The treatment of patients with PPH has 2 major components: (1) resuscitation and management of obstetric hemorrhage and, possibly, hypovolemic shock and (2) identification and management of the underlying causes of the hemorrhage.