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Quantification of Peri-partum Blood Loss: Training Module and Clot Conversion Factor

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Abstract

Objectives

To design an objective and accurate method to assess the peri-partum blood loss and to document the benefits of using this method on estimation of blood loss by healthcare professionals.

Materials and Methods

This prospective study was conducted over 6 months at Cama Albless Hospital, Mumbai. To quantify the loss of liquid blood and clots, we made use of plastic drapes, measuring jars, gravimetric method and a training module along with novel clot conversion factor which was designed to validate the visual assessment of blood loss by healthcare professionals.

Results and Conclusion

The visual assessment of blood loss is unreliable. Training module should be on display in labor room and periodic training sessions on visual assessment by and for healthcare professionals are recommended, as we documented that training has definitely a beneficial impact on visual assessment. Clot conversion factor calculated in this study can prove to be a useful tool for objective assessment. Routine use of quantitative measurement rather than visual assessment of blood loss will go a long way to prevent hemorrhage-related maternal deaths.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bombay Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India

    Suvarna Satish Khadilkar

  2. Grant Medical College, Cama and Albless Hospital, Mumbai, India

    Suvarna Satish Khadilkar, Akanksha Sood & Prajakta Ahire

  3. ESIC-PGIMSR, Andheri, Mumbai, India

    Akanksha Sood

Authors
  1. Suvarna Satish Khadilkar
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  2. Akanksha Sood
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  3. Prajakta Ahire
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suvarna Satish Khadilkar.

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Conflict of interest

All the authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was taken from the personnel participating in the training and visual estimation of discarded blood volumes.

Additional information

Dr. Suvarna Khadilkar is Consultant Gyne-Endocrinologist Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences and Medical Research Center, Mumbai and Ex-Associate Professor and Unit Chief, Cama and Albless Hospital, Mumbai. Akanksha Sood is Senior Clinical Fellow at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK and Ex- Assistant Professor at Cama and Albless Hospital, Mumbai. Dr. Prajakta Ahire is Managing Director, Gavali Hospital and Parag Polyclinic, Rabale and Ex-Assistant Professor at Cama and Albless Hospital, Mumbai.

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Khadilkar, S.S., Sood, A. & Ahire, P. Quantification of Peri-partum Blood Loss: Training Module and Clot Conversion Factor. J Obstet Gynecol India 66 (Suppl 1), 307–314 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-016-0888-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-016-0888-9

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