Blood Transfusion Needs among Obstetric Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital, India: A Prospective Observational Study

Aims and Objectives: To analyze the various indications for blood and blood component transfusion in obstetric patients.

To study the prevalence and indications for blood transfusion among obstetric patients.
To evaluate the various risk factors among these women.
To study the role of antenatal visits in patients requiring blood transfusion.
Methodology: A prospective observational study will be conducted in the department of OBG at SSIMS & RC, Davangere for a year, from July 2018 to June 2019. This study looked at pregnant women and postpartum patients (up to 7 days after birth) who were hospitalised to the OBG department and needed blood and blood component therapy. Statistical analysis will be performed using Chi square test and Student’s t test.

Results: 543 individuals out of 5486 required blood transfusions during the study period. Transfusions are used 9.89 percent of the time. Anemia, obstetric haemorrhage, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, incomplete miscarriage, full abortion, and hydatidiform mole were among the reasons for blood and blood product transfusion that we identified in our study. The most prevalent cause was anaemia in pregnancy, which was identified in 217 cases (39.96%), followed by postpartum haemorrhage, which was seen in 117 cases (21.54 percent ). In our study, transfusion responses occurred 5.34 percent of the time.

Conclusion: A thorough understanding of blood and blood product transfusion is required to make it available to those who are truly in need while also reducing the financial burden. Regular prenatal checks should be prioritised in order to maximise haemoglobin levels at the time of delivery and identify high-risk patients. To reduce blood loss, active management of the stage of labor is essential. Anemia, followed by maternal haemorrhage, is still a common reason for blood and blood product transfusions.