Massive obstetric haemorrhage with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy

An Exploration of Student Midwives’ Lived Experiences Regarding Confidence and Satisfaction in Medium-Fidelity Simulation

Background

Newly qualified midwives are expected to exhibit some level of confidence in practice when they enter the clinical environment.

Objective

To explore the lived experiences of student midwives after exposure to medium-fidelity simulation concerning confidence and satisfaction.

Methods

This qualitative, interpretive, phenomenological analysis study was conducted on a purposive sample of five, fourth-year Baccalaureate of Nursing Science student midwives at the University of Fort Hare. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data analysis applied the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach.

Results

Superordinate theme sense of fulfilment elicited six sub-ordinate themes namely 1) Transferability of skills 2) Knowledgeable 3) Equipment used during simulation 4) Realism of simulation 4) Sense of accomplishment 5) Sure/unsure of performance. The use of a standardised patient during the simulation instead of a mannequin prepared participants for the real clinical environment. After being involved in the simulation, participants became more inquisitive regarding the management of the simulated condition. Satisfaction with simulation depended on whether the simulation activity met the student’s expectations, and if the simulation equipment resembled real clinical equipment. Post-partum haemorrhage simulation bridged the gap between theory and practice.

Conclusion

Confidence and satisfaction of student midwives during simulation is depended on the realism of the simulated activity. Exposure to simulated activity increases student knowledge. The student acknowledged that simulation can bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Standardized Management Protocol in Severe Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Study

Severe postpartum hemorrhage (sPPH) is an obstetric emergency that needs prompt and effective therapy to reduce the risk of complications. In this study, women who developed sPPH (study cohort, n = 27) were treated according to a standardized management protocol prescribing sequential administration of uterotonic drugs, crystalloids, tranexamic acid, labile blood products, low-dose fibrinogen, and recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa). This group was compared to patients treated with different strategies during 2 preceding periods: an in-house guideline regulating the administration of rFVIIa (historical cohort 1, n = 20) and no specific guideline (historical cohort 2, n = 27). The management protocol was used over 33 months. The study cohort had a lower estimated blood loss (P = .004) and required less red blood cell concentrates (P = .007), fresh frozen plasma units (P = .004), and platelet concentrates (P = .020) compared to historical cohort 1 and historical cohort 2, respectively. The necessity of emergency postpartum hysterectomy was lower in the study group (P = .012). In conclusion, in patients with sPPH treated with this standardized management protocol, we observed a decreased requirement of labile blood products and lower need to proceed to emergency postpartum hysterectomy.

Maternal care quality in near miss and maternal mortality in an academic public tertiary hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Reducing maternal mortality remains a major challenge for health care systems worldwide. The factors related to maternal mortality were extensively researched, and maternal death clusters around labour, delivery and the immediate postpartum period. Studies on the quality of maternal care in academic medical centre settings in low income countries are uncommon.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of maternal deaths was conducted in an academic public tertiary hospital in Yogyakarta, and maternal near misses were used as controls. Data were obtained from medical records from February 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012. Three groups of variables were measured: (1) timeliness of care, (2) adherence to a standard of process indicators, and (3) associated extraneous variables. Variables were analysed using logistic regression to explore their effects on maternal mortality.

Results

The mean of triage response time and obstetric resident response time were longer in maternal deaths (8 ± 3.59 and 36.17 ± 23.48 min respectively) compared to near misses (1.29 ± 0.24 and 18.78 ± 4.85 min respectively). Near misses more frequently received oxytocin treatment than the maternal deaths (OR 0.13; 95%CI 0.02–0.77). Magnesium sulfate treatment in severe-preeclampsia or eclampsia was less given in maternal deaths although insignificant statistically (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.03–1.47). Prophylactic antibiotic was also more frequently given in near misses than in maternal deaths though insignificant statistically (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.06–1.56). Extraneous variables, such as caesarean sections were less performed in maternal deaths (OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.04–0.51), vaginal deliveries were more frequent in maternal deaths (OR 3.47; 95% CI 1.05–11.54), and more women in near misses were referred from other health care facilities (OR 0.09; 95% CI 0.01–0.91).

Conclusions

The near misses had relatively received better quality of care compared to the maternal deaths. The near misses had received faster response time and better treatments. Timely referral systems enabled benefits to prevent maternal death.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Syndromes in Obstetrics

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a syndrome that can be initiated by a myriad of medical, surgical, and obstetric disorders. Also known as consumptive coagulopathy, DIC is a common contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality and is associated with up to 25% of maternal deaths. The etiopathogenesis of DIC is complex and currently thought to be initiated by tissue factor or thromboplastin, which is released from trophoblastic or fetal tissue, or maternal decidua or endothelium. Tissue factor activates the coagulation sequence to cause fibrin clotting and its dissolution by the fibrinolysin system. The result of this process can range from mild, clinically insignificant laboratory derangements to marked coagulopathy with bleeding at sites of minimal trauma. Although clinical recognition varies by disease severity, several organizations have attempted to standardize the diagnosis through development of scoring systems. Several important--albeit not necessarily common--obstetric disorders associated with DIC include placental abruption, amniotic fluid embolism, sepsis syndrome, and acute fatty liver of pregnancy. More common disorders include severe preeclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome, and massive obstetric hemorrhage. Importantly, many of these disorders either cause or are associated with substantive obstetric hemorrhage. Treatment of DIC is centered on two principles. The first is identification and treatment of the underlying disorder. Because many women with consumptive coagulopathy also have massive hemorrhage, the second tenet of treatment is that obstetric complications such as uterine atony or lacerations must be controlled simultaneously with prompt blood and component replacement for a salutary outcome.

Contribution of antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage to the burden of maternal near miss and death in a national surveillance study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the occurrence of severe obstetric complications associated with antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage among women from the Brazilian Network for Surveillance of Severe Maternal Morbidity.

DESIGN

Multicenter cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Twenty-seven obstetric referral units in Brazil between July 2009 and June 2010.

POPULATION

A total of 9555 women categorized as having obstetric complications.

METHODS

The occurrence of potentially life-threatening conditions, maternal near miss and maternal deaths associated with antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage was evaluated. Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics and the use of criteria for management of severe bleeding were also assessed in these women.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The prevalence ratios with their respective 95% confidence intervals adjusted for the cluster effect of the design, and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to identify factors independently associated with the occurrence of severe maternal outcome.

RESULTS

Antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage occurred in only 8% (767) of women experiencing any type of obstetric complication. However, it was responsible for 18.2% (140) of maternal near miss and 10% (14) of maternal death cases. On multivariate analysis, maternal age and previous cesarean section were shown to be independently associated with an increased risk of severe maternal outcome (near miss or death).

CONCLUSION

Severe maternal outcome due to antepartum and intrapartum hemorrhage was highly prevalent among Brazilian women. Certain risk factors, maternal age and previous cesarean delivery in particular, were associated with the occurrence of bleeding.

Volume replacement following severe postpartum hemorrhage

Severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) can be defined as a blood loss of more than 1500 mL to 2500 mL. While rare, severe PPH is a significant contributor to maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States and throughout the world. Due to the maternal hematologic adaptation to pregnancy, the hypovolemia resulting from hemorrhage can be asymptomatic until a large amount of blood is lost. Rapid replacement of lost fluids can mitigate effects of severe hemorrhage. Current evidence on postpartum volume replacement suggests that crystalloid fluids should be used only until the amount of blood loss becomes severe. Once a woman displays signs of hypovolemia, blood products including packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and recombinant factor VIIa should be used for volume replacement. Overuse of crystalloid fluids increases the risk for acute coagulopathy and third spacing of fluids. A massive transfusion protocol is one mechanism to provide a rapid, consistent, and evidence-based team response to this life-threatening condition.

A Rare Case of A2+ve Blood Group in an Obstetric Emergency

We present a rare case of A2+ve blood group with Placenta praevia with Obstetric Haemorrhage in mild hypovolemic shock. An emergency request for blood transfusion confounded the blood bank officer as the patient's blood was seemingly incompatible with all ABO blood groups. Further investigation revealed the patient's blood group to be a rare subtype of the A group known as A2+ve. This article highlights the need to be aware of such rare subgroups, especially in tertiary referral centres like ours, where unbooked Obstetric emergencies are encountered on a regular basis, so life-saving measures can be appropriately taken.

Complications in late pregnancy

Complications of late pregnancy are managed infrequently in the emergency department and, thus, can pose a challenge when the emergency physician encounters acute presentations. An expert understanding of the anatomic and physiologic changes and possible complications of late pregnancy is vital to ensure proper evaluation and care for both mother and fetus. This article focuses on the late pregnancy issues that the emergency physician will face, from the bleeding and instability of abruptio placentae to the wide spectrum of complications and management strategies encountered with preterm labor.