When and how should I transfuse during obstetric hemorrhage?

ABSTRACT

The incidence of maternal hemorrhage and blood transfusion has increased over time. Causes of massive hemorrhage, defined as a transfusion > 10 units of erythrocytes, include abnormal placental insertion, preeclampsia, and placental abruption. Although ratio-based transfusion has been described for managing massive hemorrhage, a goal-directed approach using laboratory or point-of-care data may lead to better outcomes. Autotransfusion, which involves the collection, washing, and filtration of maternal shed blood, avoids many of the complications associated with allogeneic blood transfusion. In this review, we provide an overview of transfusion practices related to the management of obstetric hemorrhage.