The accuracy of haemoglobin testing after major postpartum haemorrhage
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A project to determine the optimal time to check hemoglobin level in women after major postpartum hemorrhage: how do haemoglobin levels change in the first 24 hours?
IRAS ID
222035
Contact name
Ahmed Khalil
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Medway Maritime Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 28 days
Research summary
Bleeding after delivery of a baby complicates about 5% of all deliveries (vaginal or Caesarean section). During pregnancy a woman's blood volume and haemoglobin mass increase to allow her to compensate for blood loss during delivery. Due to significant fluid shifts after delivery, these changes make it inaccurate to check haemoglobin level. These inaccuracies can affect decisions to give blood transfusion or not, and also whether to allow the woman to go home or stay in hospital. In practice, there is no clear guidance on the optimal time to check haemoglobin after delivery, and every doctor checks it at different times. This causes confusion for junior doctors and midwives, and does not guarantee standard care to patient. Our study aims to determine the best time to check for haemoglobin after delivery. We will take multiple blood samples: 2 hours, 6 hours and >24 hours after delivery and analyse whether the timing of blood testing alters clinical decisions regarding blood transfusion and length of stay in hospital.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/YH/0419
Date of REC Opinion
6 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion