Massive postpartum haemorrhage as a cause of maternal morbidity in a large tertiary hospital.

All cases of massive PPH (defined as estimated blood loss > 1500 ml within 24 hours of delivery) were identified from the obstetric database of the unit for the period 1997-2001 (inclusive). The casenotes of the patients were retrieved and various variables collected for analyses. Over the 5-year period, there were 145 cases of massive PPH of the 27,106 deliveries; an incidence of five per 1000 deliveries (0.5%). Most (42%) of the women were nulliparous and 12 (8%) had four or more previous deliveries. There was associated antepartum haemorrhage in 12 (8%) cases, five of which were placental abruptions. Risk factors identified to be associated with massive PPH included prolonged labour, emergency caesarean section (CS) for failure to progress, especially in the second stage (34), and placenta praevia (10). Four women had an abdominal hysterectomy. Massive PPH remains an important cause of severe maternal morbidity; risk factors, which are independent of parity, include CS in the late first stage or second stage and previous CS (irrespective of parity). A high index of suspicion is necessary for these cases, as timely intervention is more likely to minimise the complications and its consequences.