Identification and Management of Obstetric Hemorrhage

Comparative Study Between Dexmedetomidine with Bupivacaine and Bupivacaine Alone in Erector Spinae Plane Block for Postoperative Pain Control of Posterior Lumbosacral Spine Fixation Surgeries: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

As posterior lumbosacral spine fixation surgeries are common spine procedures done nowadays due to different causes and mostly accompanied with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain, so should find effective postoperative analgesia for these patients. This study aimed to observe analgesic effect of dexmedetomidine combined with bupivacaine versus bupivacaine alone for erector spinae plane block ESPB for postoperative pain control of posterior lumbosacral spine fixation surgeries.

Methods

Double-blind randomized controlled study including 90 patients who were randomly allocated into 3 groups (30 patients for each): Dexmedetomidine combined with bupivacaine (DB group), bupivacaine (B group), and saline (control) (S group). US-guided ESPB was performed preoperatively bilaterally in all patients of the 3 groups. All patients received intravenous patient-controlled postoperative analgesia with morphine and 1 gm intravenous paracetamol every 8 hours. Primary clinical outcomes were active (while mobilization) and passive (at rest) visual analog scale (VAS) pain score at first 24 hours measured every 2 hours, opioid consumption (number of PCA presses), and need for rescue analgesia. Other clinical outcomes included active and passive VAS pain score at second 24 hours, measured every 4 hours, opioid consumption, need for rescue analgesia, postoperative opioid side effects, and intraoperative dexmedetomidine side effects as bradycardia and hypotension.

Results

Active and passive VAS pain scores, postoperative opioid consumption, need for rescue analgesia, and postoperative opioid side effects were significantly lower in DB group when compared to other groups (B and S groups). There were no additional intraoperative dexmedetomidine side effects as bradycardia and hypotension. The estimated effect-size r was -0.58 and Cohen's d was -1.46.

Conclusion

Addition of dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine 0.25% in ESPB for postoperative pain control in patients of posterior lumbosacral spine fixation surgeries resulted in lower active and passive VAS pain scores, decreased postoperative opioid consumption, need for rescue analgesia and postoperative opioid side effects without additional intraoperative dexmedetomidine side effects.

Clinicaltrialsgov Identifier

NCT05590234.

Effectiveness of call system implementation for postpartum hemorrhage in a tertiary emergency medical center: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death and severe maternal morbidity worldwide. Previous studies have reported the importance of multidisciplinary treatment approaches for postpartum hemorrhage; however, only a few studies have shown a clear improvement in maternal outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a call system for postpartum hemorrhage in a tertiary emergency facility for rapid multidisciplinary treatment and its effect on maternal outcomes.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients transferred to our hospital due to postpartum hemorrhage between April 1, 2013, and March 31, 2019. The primary outcome was mortality, and the secondary outcomes were morbidity (duration of hospital stay, duration of intensive care unit stay, admission to the intensive care unit, respirator use, duration of ventilator support, acute kidney injury, transfusion-associated circulatory overload/transfusion-related acute lung injury, hysterectomy, composite adverse events, blood transfusion initiation time, blood transfusion volume, and treatment for postpartum hemorrhage). An in-hospital call system implementation commenced on April 1, 2016. The study outcomes were compared 3 years before and after implementing the call system.

RESULTS

The blood transfusion initiation time and duration of hospital stay were significantly shortened after implementing the call system for postpartum hemorrhage. No maternal deaths were observed after implementing the system.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing call systems specialized for postpartum hemorrhage in tertiary emergency facilities may improve maternal outcomes.

Imaging of Acute Abdominopelvic Pain in Pregnancy and Puerperium-Part I: Obstetric (Non-Fetal) Complications

Acute abdominopelvic pain in pregnant and postpartum patients presents clinical and therapeutic challenges, often requiring quick and accurate imaging diagnosis. Ultrasound remains the primary imaging investigation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown to be a powerful diagnostic tool in the setting of acute abdominal pain during pregnancy and puerperium. MRI overcomes some drawbacks of US, avoiding the ionizing radiation exposure of a computed tomography (CT) scan. Although CT is not usually appropriate in pregnant patients, it is crucial in the emergency evaluation of postpartum complications. The aim of this article is to provide radiologists with a thorough familiarity with the common and uncommon pregnancy and puerperium abdominal emergencies by illustrating their imaging appearances. The present first section will review and discuss the imaging findings for acute abdominopelvic pain of obstetric (non-fetal) etiology.

Short: Prediction of fetal blood oxygen content in response to partial occlusion of maternal aorta

Acute hemorrhage in pregnancy may lead to maternal and/or fetal morbidity or mortality. In emergency medicine, blockage of the aorta via an inflatable endovascular balloon, technically referred to Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA), is used to manage hemorrhage. However, the application of REBOA in pregnancy needs to strike a balance between two competing objectives of limiting maternal blood loss and ensuring fetal wellness, for which one would need to predict the impact of regulated blood pressure on fetal wellness. To address this problem, we propose an efficient machine learning-based method to predict the temporal impact of the distal Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (dMAP) controlled by the REBOA on the oxygen content in the fetal blood. Evaluation of the algorithm on data collected from in-vivo experiments from pregnant ewe animal models exhibits mean absolute error of 0.61, 1.09, 1.42, 1.70 mmHg, and coefficient of determination of 0.95, 0.86, 0.76, 0.64 for prediction of partial pressure of oxygen in fetal arterial blood, a key predictor of fetal wellness, in 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10-minute prediction horizons, respectively.

Protocol for postpartum haemorrhage including massive transfusion

Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is one of the most common causes of maternal mortality worldwide. Management of PPH depends on the severity of bleeding. If the bleeding is severe, aorta compression can reduce bleeding. It should be followed by insertion of two coarse needles for intravenous access and blood sampling for haemoglobin and haemostasis. Further on, monitoring of vital parameters, as well as provision of extra oxygen and warm crystalloids, should be performed. Uterine atony is the most common cause of PPH and local guidelines for uterotonic drug selection should be followed. Patients with ongoing bleeding should immediately receive surgical care for bleeding control. During severe ongoing bleeding, haemostasis care includes early tranexamic acid, transfusion in ratio 4:4:1 (blood:plasma:platelets), and extra fibrinogen intravenously. If not severe PPH, use goal-directed therapy. During general anaesthesia and uterine atony, stop volatile anaesthesia and change to intravenous anaesthesia.

Target areas to reduce the burden of maternal death due to obstetric hemorrhage in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Obstetric hemorrhage is defined as active bleeding of more than 500 ml in vaginal delivery or 1000ml following cesarean delivery. It is the leading cause of maternal death, which contributes to up to 50% of maternal deaths in Ethiopia. This study aims to assess the relationships between adverse maternal health exposure (personal and medical factors) and delay in health care (hesitancy in opting to seek care, lag in reaching a health facility, and wait in receiving health care at the facility) and adverse outcomes of obstetric hemorrhage among reviewed maternal deaths in Ethiopia.

METHODS

This study utilizes 4530 reported maternal death surveillance data obtained from Ethiopian maternal death surveillance and response (MDSR) system between 2013 to 2020. Latent class analysis was applied to identify underlying patterns of adverse maternal health exposures. Furthermore, the associations between latent classes and adverse outcomes of obstetric hemorrhage were analyzed using multilevel logistics regression model adjusted for clustering within reporting provinces.

RESULTS

Nearly 56% of the reviewed maternal deaths were due to the adverse outcome of obstetric hemorrhage, among which nearly 75% died during the postpartum period. The study identified six separate sub-groups of women based on their vulnerability to adverse maternal health conditions. The six subgroups identified by this study are 1) women who travelled for a long duration to reach a health care provider, 2) those who had no access to a health facility (HF) within a 5Km radius, 3) those who failed to decide to go to a health facility: 4) those with multiparity,5) those who were injured during delivery with history of coagulopathy, and 6) those who got injured during delivery and failed to decide to go to a health facility. Women in the class of grand multipara have demonstrated the highest risk of death due to the adverse outcomes of obstetric hemorrhage (β = 1.54, SE = 0.09, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The study has attempted to identify women that are at a higher risk for the adverse outcomes of obstetric hemorrhage. Henceforth, targeted intervention should be taken on women of reproductive age group, and those identified as at a higher risk, to reduce the high rate of maternal death due to obstetric hemorrhage.

Latest advances in postpartum hemorrhage management

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. A maternal health priority is improving how healthcare providers prevent and manage postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Because anesthesiologists can help facilitate how hospitals develop approaches for PPH prevention and anticipatory planning, we review the potential utility of PPH risk-assessment tools, bundles, and protocols. Anesthesiologists rely on clinical and diagnostic information for initiating and evaluating medical management. Therefore, we review modalities for measuring blood loss after delivery, which includes visual, volumetric, gravimetric, and colorimetric approaches. Point-of-care technologies for assessing changes in central hemodynamics (ultrasonography) and coagulation profiles (rotational thromboelastometry and thromboelastography) are also discussed. Anesthesiologists play a critical role in the medical and transfusion management of PPH. Therefore, we review blood ordering and massive transfusion protocols, fixed-ratio vs. goal-directed transfusion approaches, coagulation changes during PPH, and the potential clinical utility of the pharmacological adjuncts, tranexamic acid, and fibrinogen concentrate.

Tamponamento por balão intrauterino no tratamento da hemorragia pós-parto

Resumo Introdução: A hemorragia pós-parto trata-se de uma emergência obstétrica com elevada prevalência e morbimortalidade significativa, sobretudo em contextos de baixa acessibilidade a serviços especializados de saúde. Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade do tamponamento por balão intrauterino no controle da hemorragia pós-parto, redução da necessidade de intervenções cirúrgicas de emergência e redução da mortalidade materna. Métodos: Revisão sistemática de ensaios clínicos randomizados, orientada pelo Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions e relatada através do Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Foram considerados como critérios de elegibilidade ensaios clínicos randomizados que avaliaram o uso de diferentes tipos de balão para tamponamento intrauterino enquanto estratégia para a redução ou cessação da hemorragia pós-parto quando comparados a outras intervenções (farmacológicas ou cirúrgicas). Resultados: Quatro estudos avaliaram 498 pacientes para os desfechos preconizados. Em 80% dos casos relatados observou-se a cessação da hemorragia em um intervalo médio de 15 minutos, após a inserção dos dispositivos. O tempo de permanência dos dispositivos foi de 24 horas. Não foram relatados eventos adversos graves. Devido à heterogeneidade clínica entre os estudos, não foi possível realizar síntese quantitativa. Conclusão: Os achados obtidos não fornecem evidências suficientes para sustentar a utilização rotineira dos dispositivos de tamponamento uterino enquanto prática protocolar no controle da hemorragia pós-parto refratária. A utilização destes dispositivos, no entanto, parece ser promissora diante da falha das intervenções de primeira linha, podendo desempenhar um importante papel em termos de redução de morbimortalidade materna e preservação uterina.

Intrauterine balloon tamponade for postpartum hemorrhage

Abstract Introduction: Postpartum hemorrhage is an obstetric emergency with high prevalence and significant morbidity and mortality, especially in areas with reduced access to specialized health services. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of intrauterine balloon tamponade in controlling postpartum hemorrhage, with the aim to reduce the need for emergency surgical interventions and decrease maternal mortality. Methods: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials, guided by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and reported through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Randomized clinical trials that evaluated the use of different types of balloons for intrauterine tamponade as a strategy for reducing or stopping postpartum hemorrhage compared to other interventions (pharmacological or surgical) were considered for inclusion. Results: Four studies evaluated 498 patients. In 80% of the reported cases, hemorrhage cessation was observed within a mean interval of 15 min after device insertion. The device permanence time was 24 h. No serious adverse events were reported. Due to clinical heterogeneity between studies, it was not possible to perform a quantitative synthesis. Conclusion: We did not find enough evidence to support the routine use of uterine tamponade devices as a protocol practice in the control of refractory postpartum hemorrhage. However, the use of these devices seems to be promising in cases where first line interventions fail and may play an important role in decreasing maternal morbidity and mortality and in uterine preservation.

Effect of an Obstetric Hemorrhage Bundle on Clinical Outcomes and Clinician Perceptions

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of an obstetric hemorrhage (OBH) safety bundle on health outcomes and to explore nurses' and physicians' perceptions of using the bundle.

DESIGN

Descriptive longitudinal study, including review of electronic health records for 79,509 births, and clinician surveys.

SETTING

Nine hospitals in the southwestern United States.

PARTICIPANTS

685 maternity nurses and 210 obstetricians.

INTERVENTIONS/MEASUREMENTS

Retrospective and prospective data collection over 3.5 years to examine selected health outcomes before and after implementing an OBH bundle. A 10-item questionnaire was used to survey clinicians for their perceptions of bundle use. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture was used to explore nurses' views of the safety climate before and after bundle implementation.

RESULTS

Statistically significant decreases in mean documented blood loss were observed with bundle use. Blood loss rates of less than 500 ml and greater than 1,000 ml increased, and blood loss rates of 500 to 1,000 ml decreased. Use of postpartum hemorrhage medications increased. When adjusted for multiple tests, there was no statistically significant difference in the rates of postpartum hysterectomies or ICU admissions or in length of stay. Clinicians' perceptions of bundle use were positive, with scores ranging from 6 to 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. However, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture results indicated a decrease in nurses' perceptions of safety after bundle implementation.

CONCLUSION

OBH bundles provide tools and guidance to improve perinatal care and outcomes. Our findings of lower mean blood loss, increased use of postpartum hemorrhage medications, and positive perceptions of the bundle differed from findings of previous studies. Nurses' perceptions of safety decreased, yet clinicians reported that care was safer with the OBH bundle. Nurses' commitment and collaboration are vital to the success of bundle implementation.

The impact of crystalloid versus colloid on coagulation as measured by thromboelastometry in term parturients: an in vitro study

OBJECTIVE

A pilot study to examine the impact of crystalloid versus albumin hemodilution in vitro on coagulation using thromboelastometry in pregnant patients.

METHODS

This prospective, observational pilot study included seventy-six pregnant patients at term (≥37 weeks) without history of bleeding or clotting disorder or on anticoagulation. Blood was collected and diluted with either Plasma-Lyte or albumin at the following levels: 0%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%. Thromboelastometry was performed to assess for coagulation changes.

RESULTS

There was a small, statistically significant difference in the FIBTEM A5 between the Plasma-Lyte and albumin samples. However, the predicted probability of coagulopathy, using FIBTEM A5 less than 12 mm, was not different between the groups at any dilution. There was no difference in EXTEM clotting time at low-moderate levels of hemodilution. At dilutions above 40%, the albumin group had a significantly greater prolongation in clotting time compared to the Plasma-Lyte group.

CONCLUSION

When albumin is used at low-moderate levels of hemodilution in vitro in parturients there is no additional risk of coagulopathy compared to hemodilution with crystalloid. Given that colloids are frequently used to restore intravascular volume during massive hemorrhage, these results support that during early stages of hemorrhage, albumin may not contribute to additional coagulopathy beyond that of hemodilution, although further in vivo studies are needed.

The interrater reliability and agreement of a 0 to 10 uterine tone score in cesarean delivery

BACKGROUND

Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading source of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide with uterine atony identified as the underlying cause in up to 80% of cases. Several measures have been utilized to report uterine tone. The most commonly reported measure is a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale, but this scale has not been tested for reliability or agreement between different raters.

OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the interrater reliability and agreement of the 0 to 10 visual numeric rating scale of uterine tone during cesarean delivery. A secondary purpose was to obtain estimates of scale responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference.

STUDY DESIGN

Between August and November of 2018, obstetricians used a 0 to 10 numeric rating score to independently rate uterine tone at 3 and 10 minutes after cesarean delivery by palpation of the uterus. Of note, "0" represented "no tone" and "10" represented excellent tone. Each obstetrician independently and blinded to the other's score pointed to a numeric rating scale held by the anesthesiologist through a clear sterile drape. Intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis were used to assess interrater reliability and agreement, respectively. Standardized response mean and standard error of measurement were used to obtain estimates of responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 82 and 84 pairs of scores were collected at 3 and 10 minutes, respectively, from pairs of 62 unique obstetricians. The mean±standard deviation difference in scores between rater 1 and rater 2 was 0.4±1.4 at 3 minutes and 0.1±1.1 at 10 minutes. Intraclass correlation coefficients for a future single rater (intraclass correlation coefficient [1, 1]) at 3 and 10 minutes were 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.77) and 0.61 (95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.73), and for the average between 2 future raters (intraclass correlation coefficient [1, 2]), they were 0.80 (95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.87) and 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.84), indicating good and excellent reliability, respectively. Bland-Altman analysis estimated 95% limit of agreement between raters of -2.4 (95% confidence interval, -3.0 to -1.9) to 3.1 (95% confidence interval, 2.6-3.7) at 3 minutes and -2.1 (95% confidence interval, -2.5 to -1.7) to 2.4 (95% confidence interval, 2.0-2.8) at 10 minutes, consistent with good interrater agreement at both time points. The standardized response mean from 3 to 10 minutes after delivery was 1.1 (n=81). Standard error of measurement was 1.0 (95% confidence interval, 0.9-1.1) at 3 minutes and 0.8 (95% confidence interval, 0.7-0.9) at 10 minutes.

CONCLUSION

The 0 to 10 numeric rating scale for uterine tone demonstrated good to excellent interrater reliability with 1 and 2 raters, respectively, and good interrater agreement. The scale was responsive to within-parturient change in tone, and preliminary estimates of the minimal clinically important difference were obtained. The 0 to 10 numeric rating scale for uterine tone may be a reliable, standardized tool for future research in reporting degree of uterotonic contraction during cesarean delivery.

A Pictorial Review of Postpartum Complications

The postpartum period, also known as the puerperium, begins immediately after delivery of the neonate and placenta and ends 6-8 weeks after delivery. The appearance of physiologic uterine changes during puerperium can overlap with that of postpartum complications, which makes imaging interpretation and diagnosis difficult. Obstetric and nonobstetric postpartum complications are a considerable source of morbidity and mortality in women of reproductive age, and the radiologist plays an important role in the assessment of these entities, which often require a multimodality imaging approach. US and contrast material-enhanced CT are the techniques of choice in the emergency department, and they can show characteristic radiologic findings that enable differentiation between normal and abnormal features to help radiologists and emergency department practitioners to reach a correct diagnosis and provide timely treatment. The spectrum of postpartum complications ranges from relatively self-limiting to life-threatening conditions that can be divided into six categories: infectious conditions (endometritis), thrombotic complications (eg, deep vein thrombosis, ovarian vein thrombophlebitis, HELLP [hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count] syndrome, or cerebral sinus thrombosis), hemorrhagic conditions (eg, uterine atony, trauma of the lower portion of the genital tract, retained products of conception, uterine artery arteriovenous malformations, or uterine artery pseudoaneurysm), cesarean delivery-related complications (eg, bladder flap hematoma, subfascial hematoma, rectus sheath hematoma, abscess formation, uterine dehiscence, uterine rupture, vesicovaginal fistula, or abdominal wall endometriosis), iatrogenic conditions (eg, uterine perforation), and nonobstetric complications (eg, acute cholecystitis, acute appendicitis, uterine fibroid degeneration, renal cortical necrosis, pyelonephritis, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, or pituitary gland apoplexy). The online slide presentation from the RSNA Annual Meeting is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2020.

Maternal death and postpartum hemorrhage in sub-Saharan Africa - A pilot study in metropolitan Mozambique

BACKGROUND

Maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa is approximately 500 to 1000 per 100 000 births (vs. approximately 5-20 in developed countries). Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is deemed responsible for 30% to 50% of the deaths.

OBJECTIVE

To study PPH, risk factors, and mortality in metropolitan Mozambique to inform future studies and intervention strategies.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Retrospective cross-sectional data extraction from all charts available to us (n = 495) recording deliveries between January and June 2018 at Maputo Central Hospital. Data included age, maternal survival, HIV status, parity, delivery mode, complications, vital signs, laboratory values, and maternal/fetal data. PPH was determined by charted diagnosis, interventions for hemorrhaging, placental abruption, transfusion, or blood loss. Autopsy reports from all deceased patients (n = 35) were examined.

RESULTS

Median age was 29 years with 17% HIV prevalence. Risk factors for PPH (frequency, 12%) included parity (adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for 3+ versus nulliparity, 7.20 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.46-21.10), gestation length (AOR, 0.86; CI, 0.81-0.92 per week), and body temperature (AOR, 1.10; CI, 1.04-1.16 per 0.1°C). Maternal mortality was strongly associated with PPH (AOR, 5.22; 95% CI, 2.26-12.08) and HIV (AOR, 11.66; 95% CI, 4.72-28.78). Laboratory values (n = 241) were available from mothers experiencing complications (approximately 50%). Anemia (prevalence 54%) was a strong predictor of PPH with an inverse relationship between hemoglobin levels on admission (AOR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.50-0.77 per g/dL higher hemoglobin) and the probability of later suffering from PPH. Mothers who died following PPH had lower median hemoglobin (6.2 g/dL) than mothers who survived (9.2 g/dL). Protocols to estimate peripartum blood loss were not used; antifibrinolytics and/or cryoprecipitate were unavailable.

CONCLUSION

Postpartum hemorrhage is a serious problem even in metropolitan areas of sub-Saharan Africa, and anemia influenced bleeding and death substantially. To address this problem, it is critical to raise awareness and region-specific prevention and intervention protocols.

Multidetector CT appearance of the pelvis after vaginal delivery: normal appearances and abnormal acute findings

Vaginal delivery is the most commonly performed delivery in the world and accounts for nearly two-thirds of all deliveries in the United States. It is a secure method but may be associated with some acute complications, especially in the immediate postpartum days, which can potentially be fatal for the mother. The most frequent acute complications are hemorrhages/hematomas, uterine rupture, endometritis, retained product of conception (RPOC), ovarian thrombosis and HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count). A first evaluation of the clinical status of the patients is executed by the clinicians who, depending on their experience, perform ultrasonography by themselves and eventually may request further radiologic exams in doubtful cases. Radiologists may play an important role recognizing early postpartum complications and differentiating them from physiologic postoperative findings. In this setting, the use of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is important for diagnosis of suspected postpartum complications. The aim of this article is to review the normal and abnormal post vaginal delivery MDCT aspects in order to help the clinical management by preventing misdiagnoses and tailoring the best medical treatments.

Women's experiences of miscarriage related to diagnosis, duration, and type of treatment

INTRODUCTION

Women with miscarriage experience several negative emotional feelings such as grief, isolation, coping, and despair. However, less is known about how the type of treatment and diagnosis of miscarriage influence the emotional experience.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present study was a randomized prospective longitudinal cohort study, in which women with spontaneous miscarriage (n = 35), and women with missed miscarriage (n = 67), were included to answer three validated questionnaires: Revised Impact of Miscarriage Scale, Perinatal Grief Scale, and Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, concerning experience of miscarriage, psychological well-being, and mental health 1 week and 4 months after finalized treatment.

RESULTS

There was no difference between the 2 diagnosis groups in feelings as measured by Revised Impact of Miscarriage Scale, Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, and Perinatal Grief Scale 1 week after the miscarriage. However, the psychological well-being improved significantly 4 months after the miscarriage. Separated by treatment, women treated with misoprostol alone had more depressive symptoms than women treated with misoprostol and subsequent vacuum aspiration.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that diagnosis of miscarriage had limited influence on the experiences of miscarriage, but shorter duration of treatment with misoprostol and subsequent vacuum aspiration resulted in fewer depressive symptoms.

Management of anemia in patients who decline blood transfusion

Declining a treatment modality should not be considered the same as refusal of medical care as illustrated by the management of Jehovah's Witness patients who do not accept transfusions. Over the years, a comprehensive set of strategies have been developed to meet the specific needs of these patients and these strategies are collectively called "Bloodless Medicine and Surgery" (BMS). The focus in BMS is to optimize the patients' hematopoietic capacity to increase hemoglobin (Hgb) level, minimize blood loss, improve hemostasis, and provide supportive strategies to minimize oxygen consumption and maximize oxygen utilization. We present 3 case reports that illustrate some of the challenges faced and measures available to effectively treat these patients. Under BMS programs, patients with extremely low hemoglobin levels, not conducive to survival under ordinary conditions, have survived and recovered without receiving allogeneic transfusions. Additionally, the valuable experience gained from caring for these patients has paved the way to develop the concept of Patient Blood Management as a standard care to benefit all patients, and not only those for whom blood is not an option.