Use of a whole blood substitute, Fluosol-DA 20%, after massive postpartum hemorrhage

Two patients with severe postpartum hemorrhage refused blood product transfusion for religious reasons. The patients' hemoglobin level had dropped to 3.0% or less after operative intervention, and the cardiac indexes on transfer to the tertiary care center were 8.0 and 7.3 L/minute per m2, respectively. Each received an infusion of Fluosol-DA 20% according to research protocol after obtaining informed written consent. Pulse rates and cardiac outputs dropped after the infusions. They were discharged from the hospital 17 and 15 days later with hemoglobins of 7.0 and 5.1%, respectively. Fluosol-DA 20% may be a useful adjunct for therapy of postpartum hemorrhage in women who refuse blood products for religious reasons.