Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a common obstetric complication defined by the
World Health Organization (WHO) as blood loss of 500 ml or more1
. WHO states that
the loss of 500 ml of blood should be considered an alert, after which the health of
the woman may be endangered1
. Haemorrhage, including PPH, is a leading cause of
death in developing countries, accounting for approximately one-third of all direct
obstetric deaths in Africa (33.9%) and Asia (30.8%)2
. The Millennium Development
Goal 5 of reducing the maternal mortality ratio by 75% by 2015 will not be achieved
unless the prevention and treatment of PPH in low-resource areas is prioritised 3
.
This table provides a summary of some of the innovative interventions used to
manage PPH in low-income countries. It highlights the advantages and disadvantages
of each intervention and critically assesses the evidence base available. These
interventions include oral misoprostol, a non-pneumatic anti-shock garment,
oxytocin in prefilled Uniject™ injection devices, and a hydrostatic intrauterine
balloon tamponade.
These innovations add to the range of interventions available to help prevent,
manage and/or treat PPH and improve health outcomes. These include the
administration of uteronics (e.g. oxytocin) or delayed cord clamping (for PPH
prevention), and intravenous uterine artery embolization or intravenous oxytocin or
ergometrine (for treatment of PPH)4
.
Three key messages need to be considered in order to maximize the effectiveness of
interventions to address PPH. Firstly, preventing and treating PPH should take place
within a comprehensive package of interventions from the “household to hospital
continuum of care”
4(p1). Secondly, even the most sophisticated PPH interventions can
only prevent maternal deaths if they are delivered within a functional health system.
Finally, blood transfusion is one of the most reliable strategies to respond to severe
bleeding as a result of PPH, particularly in the absence of other interventions. Blood
transfusions are an essential part of a comprehensive package of life saving
interventions used to manage obstetric complications5
. An estimated 15% of all
births are expected to result in direct obstetric complications5
, thus making it even
more important to ensure that safe blood transfusions are available