Whole Blood in the Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage

Whole blood (WB) has been shown to improve outcomes in military acute trauma patients and, to a limited extent, in civilian trauma and acute obstetric hemorrhage. The objective of this study was to examine maternal outcomes in patients receiving WB compared with component therapy (defined as packed red blood cells with plasma) for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Fifty-two patients met inclusion criteria. The WB group required fewer total blood products, intravenous fluids, and repeated operative procedures. This report demonstrates the potential benefit for use of WB in cases of acute PPH.