Postpartum hemorrhage.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, 2500 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, CA 94553, USA. cindy.su@hsd.cccounty.us

Primary care 2012 Mar

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Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a very common obstetric emergency with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Understanding its etiology is fundamental to effectively managing PPH in an acute setting. Active management of the third stage of labor is also a key component in its prevention. Management strategies include conservative measures (medications, uterine tamponade, and arterial embolization) as well as surgical interventions (arterial ligations, compression sutures, and hysterectomy). Creating a standardized PPH protocol and running simulation-based drills with a multidisciplinary team may also help decrease maternal morbidity and improve perinatal outcomes, although further studies are needed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.