Abstract
Objective To evaluate total calculated blood loss at the time of severe obstetric hemorrhage.
Study Design This is a prospective observational study of women with obstetric hemorrhage. Women
who received a blood transfusion for hypovolemia and those in which a body mass index
(BMI) could be calculated were included. Total blood volume lost was calculated. Blood
loss was analyzed in relation to maternal size as reflected in the BMI.
Results Fourteen hundred forty-three women meeting inclusion criteria delivered at our hospital
between March 2002 and June 2006. The median calculated volume of blood lost was 3529 mL,
and 93% of women sustained losses ≥3000 mL. The blood loss sufficient to provoke signs
and symptoms of hypovolemia was proportional to the woman's BMI.
Conclusion Women who develop hypovolemia during childbirth have suffered very large losses of
blood, and infusion of blood products is required to restore circulation and prevent
further morbidity.
Keywords
obstetric hemorrhage - calculated blood loss - hemorrhagic shock - blood transfusion
