Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Obstetric haemorrhage

2009; Elsevier BV; Volume: 123; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0049-3848(09)70006-4

1879-2472

Claire McLintock,

Trauma, Hemostasis, Coagulopathy, Resuscitation

Maternal mortality due to haemorrhage continues to be one of the most important causes of maternal death worldwide. The difference between resource-rich and resource-poor countries is one of scale. The most recent South African Maternal Mortality Report from 2002–2004 reports that obstetric haemorrhage is the third most frequent cause of maternal death accounting for 13% of deaths: 442 deaths — 313 due to postpartum haemorrhage [ 1 National Committee into Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths. Saving mothers: Third report on confidential enquiries into maternal deahts in South Africa; 2006. Google Scholar ]. In contrast, in the United Kingdom the most recent report of Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths identified 17 maternal deaths resulting from haemorrhage, nine from postpartum haemorrhage [ 2 Confidential Enquiry in Maternal and Child Health. Saving Mothers' Lives: a report of the confidential enquiry into maternal deaths; –2005. Google Scholar ]. These figures reveal that maternal mortality rates due to haemorrhage are almost 25 times greater in South Africa than in the UK. A sobering fact is that in both countries, suboptimal or substandard care was a contributing factor in the majority of maternal deaths due to haemorrhage. Obstetric haemorrhage is one of the commonest causes of severe maternal morbidity and there if concern that postpartum haemorrhage rates are increasing.