Postpartum Hemorrhage After Cesarean Section In Anemic and Non Anemic Patients

Poonum Bai, Nasreen Fatima

Abstract

Objective

To compare the frequency of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in anemic and non-anemic pregnant women undergoing cesarean section.

Study design

Cross sectional study.

Place & Duration of study

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi, from October 2020 to April 2021.

Methodology

Patients with singleton term pregnancy and cephalic presentation who underwent cesarean section were included in this study after taking informed consent. Detail history and physical examination were done. Preoperative hemoglobin level was measured. Patients were followed after cesarean section for PPH up to 24-hours. Quantitative data was presented as mean and standard deviation and qualitative variables as frequencies and percentages. Stratification of the outcome variables were done to control effect modifiers. Post stratification Chi square test was applied taking p-value of < 0.05 as significant.

Results

A total of 207 patients were included in the study. Mean age of the women was 34.14 ±8.49 year. A total of 152 (73.4%) were anemic. Of the total patients, 93 (44.9%) developed postpartum hemorrhage that included 57 (61.3%) anemic patients (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

PPH was more frequent in anemic patients with greater blood loss at the time of delivery and in postpartum period. Anemic patients who were of older age, multipara, gravida >3, belonged to lower socio economic income group and less educated, more likely to develop postpartum hemorrhage when compared with non-anemic patients.

Key words

Postpartum hemorrhage, Anemia, Cesarean Section, Morbidity, Mortality.