Risk factors for post-partum hemorrhage following vacuum assisted vaginal delivery

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk factors for post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) following vacuum assisted vaginal delivery (VAVD).

Study design: A retrospective study of all women with singleton pregnancies who underwent VAVD in a tertiary hospital (2012-2014). PPH was defined as any of the following: ≥500 ml estimated blood loss, hemoglobin drop ≥3 g/dl (difference between pre- and post-VAVD hemoglobin levels) or the need for blood products transfusion. Characteristics of women with PPH following VAVD were compared to those of women with no PPH following VAVD.

Results: Of 1,154 VAVDs, 295 (25.6 %) had PPH. Women in the PPH group were more often nulliparous (83.1 vs. 70.5 %, p = 0.001) and had higher rate of hypertensive disorders (4.4 vs. 1.4 %, p = 0.001). The rate of episiotomy (87.8 vs. 81.6 %, p = 0.01) was higher in the PPH group. In multivariate analysis, risk factors for PPH were (Odds Ratio, 95 % Confidence Interval) hypertensive disorders (2.40, 1.03-5.58, p = 0.04), induction of labor (1.42, 1.01-2.10, p = 0.04) and longer second (1.003, 1.001-1.006, p = 0.03) and 3rd (1.02, 1.01-1.04, p = 0.004) stages of labor.

Conclusion: Risk factors for PPH following VAVD can be identified and should be taken into consideration at the immediate post-partum period.

Keywords: Induction of labor; Post-partum hemorrhage; Risk factors; Vacuum assisted vaginal delivery.