Duration of third stage labour and postpartum blood loss: a secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial data

Background Obstetric haemorrhage continues to be a leading cause of maternal mortality, contributing to more than a quarter of the 2,443,000 maternal deaths reported between 2003 and 2009. During this period, about 70% of the haemorrhagic deaths occurred postpartum. In addition to other identifiable risk factors for greater postpartum blood loss, the duration of the third stage of labour (TSL) seems to be important, as literature shows that a longer TSL can be associated with more blood loss. To better describe the association between the duration of TSL and postpartum blood loss in women receiving active management of third stage of labour (AMTSL), this secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial data has been conducted. Methods This was a secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial conducted in twenty-three sites in ten countries. We studied the association between the TSL duration and blood loss in the sub cohort of women from the CHAMPION trial (all of whom received AMTSL), with TSL upto 60 min and no interventions for postpartum haemorrhage. We used a general linear model to fit blood loss as a function of TSL duration on the log scale, arm and center, using a normal distribution and the log link function. We showed this association separately for oxytocin and for Heat stable (HS) carbetocin. Results For the 10,040 women analysed, blood loss rose steeply with third stage duration in the first 10 min, but more slowly after 10 min. This trend was observed for both Oxytocin and HS carbetocin and the difference in the trends for both drugs was not statistically significant (p-value = 0.2070). Conclusions There was a positive association between postpartum blood loss and TSL duration with either uterotonic. Blood loss rose steeply with TSL duration until 10 min, and more slowly after 10 min. Study registration The main trial was registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000870651 and Clinical Trial Registry of India CTRI/2016/05/006969

Oxytocin administration for induction and augmentation of labour in polish maternity units – an observational study

Background There is not enough data regarding practices and protocols on the dose of oxytocin administrated to women during labour. Empirical evidence indicates that compliance with the guidelines improves the quality of healthcare and reduces adverse effects. The study aimed to evaluate practices of oxytocin provision for labour induction and augmentation in two maternity units in Poland. Methods The article presents a prospective observational study. Data from 545 (n = 545) labours was collected in two maternity units. First, the total dose (the total amount of oxytocin provided from the beginning in the labour ward until delivery including the III and IV stage of labour) and cumulative dose of oxytocin (the amount of oxytocin given until the birth of the neonate) administered to women during labour was calculated. Then, the relationship between the cumulative dose of oxytocin and short term perinatal outcomes (mode of delivery, use of epidural anaesthesia, Apgar scores, birth weight and postpartum blood loss) was analysed. Finally, the compliance of oxytocin supply during labour with national guidelines in the following five criteria: medium, start dose, escalation rate, interval, the continuation of infusion after established labour was examined. Results The average cumulative dose of oxytocin administrated to women before birth was 4402 mU following labour induction and 2366 mU following labour augmentation. The actual administration of oxytocin deviated both from the unit and national guidelines in 93.6% of all observed labours (mainly because of continuation of infusion after established labour). We found no statistically significant correlation between the cumulative dose of oxytocin administered and mode of delivery, immediate postpartum blood loss or Apgar scores. There was no observed effect of cumulative dose oxytocin on short-term perinatal outcomes. The two units participating in the study had similar protocols and did not differ significantly in terms of total oxytocin dose, rates of induction and augmentation - the only observed difference was the mode of delivery. Conclusions The study showed no effect of the mean cumulative oxytocin dose on short-term perinatal outcomes and high rate of non-compliance of the practice of oxytocin administration for labour induction and augmentation with the national recommendations. Cooperation between different professional groups of maternity care providers should be considered in building national guidelines for maternity care.. Further studies investigating possible long-term effects of the meant cumulative dose of oxytocin and the reasons for non-compliance of practice with guidelines should be carried out.

Effect of Induction of Labor on Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes in Low-Risk Singleton Pregnancies: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

Background: To investigate the effect of induction of labor on maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: This retrospective case-control study included 4386 pregnant women with low-risk singleton pregnancies who underwent regular prenatal examination and successful vaginal delivery at ≥41 weeks and 0 days of gestation in Fujian Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January 2014 and December 2018. Clinical data were reviewed according to the mode of labor initiation; the women were divided into an induction of labor group (2007 cases) and a spontaneous onset of labor group (2361 cases). Two-sample independent t-test and χ 2 tests were used to analyze the differences in clinical characteristics such as maternal age and parity between the two groups. Results: The induction of labor group had a significantly longer total duration of labor (9.37±5.37 vs. 8.82±5.13 h; P<0.001), was associated with more postpartum blood loss (219.18±188.32 vs. 199.95±124.69 mL; P=0.01), and had a significantly higher incidence of severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) (0.8% [16/2007] vs. 0.33% [8/2361]; P=0.041) than the spontaneous onset of labor group. However, no significant difference was found in the neonatal outcomes. After adjusting for age, induction of labor in nulliparous women was more likely to lead to PPH than spontaneous onset of labor (2.74% [55/2007] vs. 1.65% [39/2361]; odds ratio=1.557; 95% confidence interval: 1.039–2.332; P<0.05]. Conclusion: Induction of labor increases postpartum blood loss, especially in primary parturients, leading to an increased risk of PPH, which may be related to the prolongation of the total duration of labor. Therefore, low-risk nulliparous women should try to avoid induction of labor without medical indications.

Duration of Third Stage Labour and Postpartum Blood Loss: a Secondary Analysis of the WHO CHAMPION Trial Data

Background: Obstetric haemorrhage continues to be a leading cause of maternal mortality, contributing to more than a quarter of the 2,443,000 maternal deaths reported between 2003 and 2009. During this period, about 70% of the haemorrhagic deaths occurred postpartum. In addition to other identifiable risk factors for greater postpartum blood loss, the duration of the third stage of labour (TSL) seems to be important, as literature shows that a longer TSL can be associated with more blood loss. To better describe the association between the duration of TSL and postpartum blood loss in women receiving active management of third stage of labour (AMTSL), this secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial data has been conducted.Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial conducted in twenty-three sites in ten countries. We studied the association between the TSL duration and blood loss in the sub cohort of women from the CHAMPION trial defined above. We used a general linear model to fit blood loss as a function of TSL duration on the log scale, arm and center, using a normal distribution and the log link function. We showed this association separately for oxytocin and for Heat stable (HS) carbetocin.Results: For the 10,040 women analysed, blood loss rose steeply with third stage duration in the first 10 minutes, but more slowly after 10 minutes. This trend was observed for both Oxytocin and HS carbetocin and the difference in the trends for both drugs was not statistically significant (p-value=0.2070). Conclusions: There was a positive association between postpartum blood loss and TSL duration with either uterotonic. Blood loss rose steeply with TSL duration until 10 minutes, and more slowly after 10 minutes. Study registration: The main trial was registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000870651 and Clinical Trial Registry of India CTRI/2016/05/006969.

Identification of prognostic markers in clinical decision making on massive blood transfusions in parturient women with blood loss

Background. Obstetric hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, massive bleeding in parturient women, along with infectious complications and preeclampsia, determine up to 75 % of cases of maternal mortality. The purpose of the study was to identify prognostic markers in clinical decision making for massive blood transfusions in parturient women with blood loss. Materials and methods. The study included 38 parturient women in whom childbirth was complicated by blood loss. The average age of the subjects was 27.4 ± 4.1 years, weight — 83.3 ± 4.8 kg. The number of first-time mothers was 18 patients (47.4 %), multipara — 20 mothers (52.6 %). Postpartum blood loss averaged 1,830.5 ± 622.7 ml. All bleedings were stopped according to current protocols. Results. The analysis showed that indicators such as the level of fibrinogen (p = 0.0223) and lactate (p = 0.0137) had statistical differences in the study groups with massive blood transfusions and moderate blood transfusions. One-dimensional logistic regression analysis gave an odds ratio of 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96–0.98) for fibrinogen and 1.7 (95% CI, 1.1–3.14) for lactate, and an odds ratio for shock index was 1.45 (95% CI, 0.46–4.52). The area under the ROC-curves (AUC) for fibrinogen, lactate and shock index was 0.805 (95% CI, 0.612–0.927), 0.722 (95% CI, 0.528–0.869) and 0.588 (95% CI, 0.381–0.780), respectively. The limit value of fibrinogen 2.13 g/l had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.91 and 0.55, respectively. At the same time, the limit value of lactate, equal to 4 mmol/l, had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.69 and 0.66, respectively. AUC for lactate was significantly higher than for shock index, the difference in AUC between these indicators was –0.134 (95% CI, 0.275 to –0.012) (p = 0.052). The lactate threshold of 4 mmol/l had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.69 and 0.66, respectively, while the threshold for the shock index of 1.2 had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.64 and 0.35, respectively. Conclusions. Lactate was a better prognostic marker in the clinical decision to conduct massive blood transfusions, compared with the generally accepted shock index in patients with postpartum blood loss. Lactate measurement may be useful for activating the massive blood transfusions protocol and for promoting the onset of active hemostasis procedures.