Clinical evaluation during postpartum hemorrhage

Obstetric hemorrhage remains the most important cause of maternal mortality worldwide, accounting for 30% of all direct maternal deaths. As the method of management depends on multiple concurrent and sequential evaluations of the patient's status, it is helpful to have an evaluation strategy prepared for when a postpartum hemorrhage is encountered to facilitate interventions. This review describes an etiology-based approach to the clinical evaluation of postpartum hemorrhage and a suggested systems process that allows both a timely and appropriate evaluation of the hemorrhaging mother.