Medical management of postpartum hemorrhage: An update

Semin Perinatol. 2019 Feb;43(1):22-26. doi: 10.1053/j.semperi.2018.11.005. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Abstract

Obstetrical hemorrhage is the most common cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Together with adequate surgical control and judicious transfusion of blood products, the use of pharmacological agents (e.g., tranexamic acid) and clotting factor concentrates (e.g., fibrinogen concentrates and prothrombin complex concentrates) results in improved hemostasis and decreased bleeding-associated mortality. Guidance in the administration of these agents with the use of viscoelastic testing will likely become standard of care in the near future.

Keywords: Post partum hemorrhage; fibrinogen; pregnancy; transfusion.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antifibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Coagulation Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Coagulation Tests
  • Blood Transfusion / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Hemostatics / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Maternal Mortality
  • Obstetrics*
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage / prevention & control
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage / therapy*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Tranexamic Acid / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antifibrinolytic Agents
  • Blood Coagulation Factors
  • Hemostatics
  • prothrombin complex concentrates
  • Tranexamic Acid