Indication of blood components transfusion in obstetrics

Abstract

Background: Blood and blood component utilization is an integral part of patient management in obstetrics and is often a life saving measure. Various pregnancy complications including 1^st trimester complications and disorders of labor show up as conditions needing transfusion in the day-to-day practice of obstetrics.

Methods: This prospective study was carried out at the department of obstetrics of tertiary care teaching hospital from April 2021 over a period of 18 months and data was collected from all patients (140) who had received transfusion of blood products for any obstetric cause.

Results: Out of a total 3102 obstetric admissions, 140 (4.51%) participants received blood product transfusion. Anemia (42.1%) followed by postpartum hemorrhage (20%) followed by antepartum hemorrhage (16.4%) and 1^st trimester complications (16.4%) were the major cause for blood product transfusion. 33.6% of participants gave no history of antenatal care (ANC) visits while 25.7% had only 1 to 3 ANC visits. 44.3% gave no history of hematinic intake while 31.4% had irregular hematinic intake. The department utilized maximum number of packed red blood cells (PRBC) followed by fresh frozen plasma (FFPs) and platelet concentrates.

Conclusions: Three most common indications for transfusion were nutritional anemia, obstetric hemorrhage and first trimester complications. Majority of patients had inadequate or no antenatal care. Early and regular antenatal care, early diagnosis and management of high-risk pregnancies and obstetric complications, institutional delivery can reduce the rate of transfusion of blood products.