Postpartum hemorrhage

Yinka Oyelese1, William E Scorza, Ricardo Mastrolia

  • 1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. yinkamd@aol.com

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of death related to pregnancy worldwide. Most deaths resulting from PPH are preventable. Physicians, nurses, midwives, and other birth attendants should be aware of the risk factors for PPH and be trained adequately in the preventive measures and management strategies for this pregnancy complication. Newer, less invasive technologies such as embolization may improve outcomes with PPH. Reducing the incidence of PPH and the mortality resulting from the condition should be a key goal of obstetrics services worldwide. This article focuses on the etiology, prediction, prevention, and management of PPH.

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