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Jill Durocher

A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Blood Loss and Clinical Signs

Published
March 6th, 2013
Type
Publication
Topic
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Authors
Pacagnella, R.C., Souza, J.P., Durocher, J., Perel, P., Blum, J., Winikoff, B., Gülmezoglu, A.M.
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PLoS One; March 6, 2013; 8(3): e57594; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057594

This review examined 30 studies involving women with haemorrhage, 5 of which focused on pregnancy-related haemorrhage, to see if there was a relationship between blood loss and clinical signs that could be used as triggers for clinical interventions. The authors found that there was considerable variability in this relationship. While there was a significant relationship between shock index and blood loss, it is difficult to establish specific cut-off points for other factors to indicate clinical intervention. Further research on the role of the shock index in obstetrics is needed.