Assessing reVITALize: Should the Definition of Postpartum Hemorrhage Differ by Mode of Delivery?

Abstract

Background Obstetrical hemorrhage is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, yet is inconsistently defined. In 2014, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) reVITALize program redefined postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) as greater than 1,000 mL blood loss regardless of the mode of delivery (MOD).

Objective We sought to assess the reVITALize definition's validity by understanding whether the definition of PPH should, as proposed by ACOG, be one value regardless of MOD.

Study Design This is a retrospective study of all women who delivered at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from October 15, 2013 through December 15, 2013.

Results A total of 592 of the 626 (95%) women were included. The average reported estimated blood loss (EBL) for vaginal delivery (VD) was significantly lower than for cesarean delivery (CD) ([350 ±170 mL) and [880 ± 360 mL]; p < 0.001). The average hemoglobin (Hb) drop was only slightly lower for VD compared with CD ([1.4 ± 1.0 g/dL {11.5% drop}] and [1.9 ± 1.2 g/dL {16.2% drop}], respectively, p < 0.001). The association between EBL and observed Hb drop differed in accuracy by MOD.

Conclusion Likely based on historic perceptions, obstetric providers estimate blood loss for VD as less than half that of CD. However, using objective measures, blood loss is more similar than perceived between VD and CD, supporting the ACOG reVITALize single definition of PPH regardless of MOD.

Keywords

postpartum hemorrhage - estimated blood loss - reVITALize - blood transfusion

Note

A portion of these data was presented in abstract form at the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Annual Meeting in February 2015. No funding was required for the performance of this study. The authors report no conflict of interest.

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