[Postpartum Hemorrhage]

Abstract

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) affects about 4% of all deliveries in high-income countries and continues to rise, a trend attributable to the increase in caesarean section rates and maternal morbidity. Preventive measures such as the precautionary administration of uterotonics effectively reduce the risk of severe bleeding irrespective of birth mode. As a time-critical condition and a significant contributor to adverse maternal outcomes, PPH needs to be diagnosed early by measuring, not estimating, blood losses. Institutional treatment algorithms should be available to guide stage-based interdisciplinary management without delay. The main therapy goals are to identify the etiology and stop the bleeding by using uterotonics and mechanical and surgical interventions, to restore hemodynamic stability by volume and transfusion therapy and to optimize hemostasis by laboratory- and viscoelastic assay-guided factor replacement. This review highlights current recommendations for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of PPH.