Sudden Postpartum Maternal Collapse

doi:10.1017/9781108790932.021

Chapter 19 - Sudden Postpartum Maternal Collapse

from Section 4 - Postpartum Emergencies

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 May 2021

Becky Liu and

Amarnath Bhide

Edited by

Edwin Chandraharan and

Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran

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Edwin Chandraharan: Affiliation:
St George's University of London
Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran: Affiliation:
St George's University of London

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Summary

This is the most common cause of maternal collapse in the immediate postnatal period, and in the most recent MBRRACE report, the number of maternal deaths as a result of this has risen from 13 to 21 in the last triennium [1]. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) occurs following approximately 1%–5% of deliveries. Primary PPH is defined as more than 500 mL of blood lost from the genital tract with 24 hours of delivery and is categorised as minor (500–1000 mL) and major (>1000 mL). A loss of more than 2000 mL of blood is often classed as massive postpartum haemorrhage and is often audited [2]. The causes of primary PPH can be remembered as ‘the 4 T’s’ – tone, trauma, tissue and thrombin. Secondary PPH occurs after 24 hours of delivery and is attributable mostly to retained products of conception (placental fragments) and endometritis.

Type: Chapter
Information: Obstetric and Intrapartum Emergencies
A Practical Guide to Management
, pp. 139 - 146

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108790932.021 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2021

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References

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