Cell salvage for vaginal delivery – is it time we considered it?

How do I perform cell salvage during vaginal obstetric hemorrhage?

BACKGROUND

Obstetric hemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable maternal mortality. To combat this, obstetric organizations worldwide recommend consideration of autotransfusion during severe peripartum bleeding to minimize allogenic transfusion. Current guidelines for autotransfusion in obstetrics are limited to patients undergoing cesarean birth. At present, women experiencing vaginal obstetric hemorrhage are excluded from many obstetric autotransfusion protocols. However, emerging data suggest that autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood is both safe and feasible in the obstetric patient population.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

In this review, we will provide an overview of the current literature surrounding cell salvage of vaginally send blood and a detailed outline of our institution's blood collection protocol.

RESULTS

Recent data suggests autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood is both safe and effective.

DISCUSSION

Implementation of autotransfusion technology into the delivery room is a critical next step for the advancement of transfusion medicine in obstetrics. This review provides an overview of the data surrounding autotransfusion of vaginally shed blood during maternal hemorrhage and describes practical suggestions for how it can be effectively implemented into routine practice.

Clinical pearls part 3: anaesthetic management of abnormally invasive placentation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Abnormal placentation is a clinical condition seen increasingly in the pregnant population. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which may be mitigated through robust multidisciplinary care for these patients. The role of maternal critical care for these patients has largely been ignored in the literature.

RECENT FINDINGS

Advances in pharmacological management of bleeding with recent publications of large multicentre trials in addition to new technologies in the management of massive obstetric haemorrhage (MOH) have revolutionized the management of abnormal placentation. These include the use of tranexamic acid, interventional radiology, cell saver technology, and point-of-care coagulation tests. The role of maternal critical care for the optimization of postoperative complications and physiological derangements has not been considered widely in the literature. This article summarizes the current evidence for interventions and suggests a protocol for the management of these high-risk patients.

SUMMARY

A robust protocol outlining the key elements of the management of placenta accreta, including optimizing postoperative care, should be in place to promote desired outcomes.

Cell salvage for postpartum haemorrhage during vaginal delivery: a case series

BACKGROUND

The safety and effectiveness of cell salvage for vaginal delivery is unknown. This case series aimed to assess the utility and adverse events related to the use of cell salvage for maternal haemorrhage during vaginal delivery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort study design was chosen, focused on postpartum haemorrhages that occurred after vaginal delivery for which cell salvage equipment was requested to be set up in the labour and delivery room outside of a sterile operating room environment. Variables recorded included duration of stay in hospital, occurrence of wound infections, sepsis, thromboembolic events, and amniotic fluid embolism.

RESULTS

Of 28 cases of postpartum haemorrhage during vaginal deliveries involving the setup or use of cell salvage equipment, ten were associated with successful re-infusion of salvaged shed blood. These ten cases were compared to the 18 cases in which cell salvage equipment was set up, but insufficient shed blood was salvaged for re-infusion. There were no instances of postpartum sepsis, wound infection, or thromboembolism associated with the use of cell salvage for vaginal delivery. Although one case of suspected amniotic fluid embolism occurred, severe symptoms began prior to the infusion of salvaged blood.

DISCUSSION

Infusion of salvaged shed blood collected from a vaginal delivery field is feasible. The outcomes of these cases do not exclude an unacceptably high risk of infection or embolic events. Trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness associated with the use of cell salvage in vaginal deliveries are justified.

Autologous Blood Transfusion for Postpartum Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States and globally. Although the rate of PPH is generally decreasing nationally, severity of PPH appears to be increasing, potentially related to the various comorbidities associated with women of childbearing age. There is increasing evidence of risks associated with allogeneic blood transfusion, which has historically been the classic therapeutic approach for treatment to PPH. Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to the implications of sensitization to red cell antigens, a common sequela to allogenic blood transfusion. Autologous blood transfusion eliminates the potential of communicable disease transmission as well as the conceivable threat of a blood transfusion reaction. Recent technological advances allow cell salvage coupled with the use of a leukocyte filter to be used as an alternative approach for improving the outcome for women experiencing a PPH. Modest changes in standard operating procedure and continued training in use and application of cell salvaged blood may assist in minimizing negative outcomes from PPH. Salvaged blood has been demonstrated to be at least equal and often superior to banked blood. We discuss nursing implications for application of this technology for women with PPH. Continued research is warranted to evaluate the impact that application of cell salvage with filtration has on the patient experiencing a PPH.

Massive obstetric hemorrhage: Current approach to management

Massive obstetric hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is defined (among others) as the loss of>2,500ml of blood, and is associated to a need for admission to critical care and/or hysterectomy. The relative hemodilution and high cardiac output found in normal pregnancy allows substantial bleeding before a drop in hemoglobin and/or hematocrit can be identified. Some comorbidities associated with pregnancy can contribute to the occurrence of catastrophic bleeding with consumption coagulopathy, which makes the situation even worse. Optimization, preparation, rational use of resources and protocolization of actions are often useful to improve outcomes in patients with postpartum hemorrhage. Using massive obstetric hemorrhage protocols is useful for facilitating rapid transfusion if needed, and can also be cost-effective. If hypofibrinogenemia during the bleeding episode is identified, early fibrinogen administration can be very useful. Other coagulation factors in addition to fibrinogen may be necessary during postpartum hemorrhage replacement measures in order to effectively correct coagulopathy. A hysterectomy is recommended if the medical and surgical measures prove ineffective.