Disseminated intravascular coagulation in pregnancy: New insights

Emergency cesarean section in pregnant trauma patients presenting after motor vehicle collision

Background

Most pregnant trauma patients (PTPs) present after motor vehicle collision (MVC). The national rate and risk factors for emergency cesarean section (ECS) during the index hospitalization for pregnant trauma patients (PTPs) are unknown. We sought to investigate the national rate of ECS in PTPs presenting after MVC, hypothesizing a higher risk of ECS among those with severe injuries or elevated shock index (SI).

Methods

The 2020-2021 TQIP was queried for PTPs presenting after MVC. PTPs that underwent ECS were compared to patients that did not undergo ECS. Elevated SI was defined as ≥1. Severe injury was defined by abbreviated injury scale grade ≥3. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

From 1183 PTPs, 95 (8.0 %) underwent ECS. The median time to ECS was 115 min. The ECS group had higher rates of lung (27.4 % vs. 12.2 %, p < 0.001) injury, spleen (18.9 % vs. 5.5 %, p < 0.001) injury, and elevated SI (22.1 % vs. 9.8 %, p < 0.001). ECS patients had higher rates of complication (9.5 % vs. 2.1 %, p < 0.001) and death (4.2 % vs. 1.1 %, p = 0.012). Independently associated risk factors for ECS included severe head (OR 2.65, CI 1.14-6.17, p = 0.023) or abdominal (OR 2.07, CI 1.08-3.97, p = 0.028) injuries and elevated SI (OR 2.17 CI 1.25-3.79, p = 0.006).

Conclusion

The national rate of ECS among PTPs presenting after MVC is 8 % with most occurring within the first 2 hours of arrival. Severe head and abdominal injuries as well as elevated SI are risk factors for ECS.

Trimester-specific reference intervals of hemostasis biomarkers for healthy pregnancy

Physiological changes in hemostasis during pregnancy have been reported by several authors. This study aimed at establishing reference intervals for the hemostasis biomarkers thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), α2-plasmininhibitor-plasmin complex (PIC), thrombomodulin (TM) and tissue plasminogen activator-inhibitor complex (tPAI-C), in healthy pregnancies. After excluding outliers, a total of 496 healthy pregnant women (128 first-trimester, 142 second-trimester, 107 third-trimester and 119 pre-labor) and 103 healthy nonpregnant women were enrolled from Shenzhen Bao'an Women's and Children's Hospital. Hemostasis biomarkers, TAT, PIC, TM and tPAI-C, were measured by using a quantitative chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay performed on HISCL automated analysers. The median and reference intervals (the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles) were calculated to establish trimester-specific reference intervals for healthy pregnant women. The reference intervals for TAT, PIC, TM and tPAI-C in the first trimester were 0.7-7.6 1 µg/L, 0.2-0.9 mg/L, 2.8-11.0 TU/ml, and 1.2-6.5 1 µg/L, respectively. The reference intervals in the second trimester were 1.7-12.0 1 µg/L, 0.2-1.0 mg/L, 3.7-11.6 TU/ml, and 2.8-8.8 1 µg/L, respectively. The reference intervals in the third trimester were 2.7-16.1 1 µg/L, 0.1-1.4 mg/L, 2.9-12.9 TU/ml, and 1.9-8.0 1 µg/L, respectively. At pre-labor, the reference intervals were 4.8-32.9 1 µg/L, 0.2-1.9 mg/L, 4.2-12.6 TU/ml, and 2.8-15.4 1 µg/L, respectively. Gestational reference intervals for TAT, PIC, TM and tPAI-C in healthy pregnancies are provided, but only for TAT with increasing concentrations throughout pregnancy, the reference intervals for non-pregnant were not applicable.

Maternal Coagulation Disorders and Postpartum Hemorrhage

Coagulation disorders are rare causes of postpartum hemorrhage. Disturbances in coagulation should be suspected in patients with a family history of coagulopathy, those with a personal history of heavy menstrual bleeding, and those with persistent bleeding despite correction of other causes. The coagulopathic conditions discussed include disseminated intravascular coagulation, platelet disorders, and disturbances of coagulation factors. These should not be overlooked in the evaluation of obstetric hemorrhage, as diagnosis and appropriate treatment may prevent severe maternal morbidity and mortality.

Haemostatic support in postpartum haemorrhage: A review of the literature and expert opinion

Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths worldwide. Typically, bleeding is controlled by timely obstetric measures in parallel with resuscitation and treatment of coagulopathy. Early recognition of abnormal coagulation is crucial and haemostatic support should be considered simultaneously with other strategies as coagulopathies contribute to the progression to massive haemorrhage. However, there is lack of agreement on important topics in the current guidelines for management of PPH. A clinical definition of PPH is paramount to understand the situation to which the treatment recommendations relate; however, reaching a consensus has previously proven difficult. Traditional definitions are based on volume of blood loss, which is difficult to monitor, can be misleading and leads to treatment delay. A multidisciplinary approach to define PPH considering vital signs, clinical symptoms, coagulation and haemodynamic changes is needed. Moreover, standardised algorithms or massive haemorrhage protocols should be developed to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality and improve overall clinical outcomes in PPH. If available, point-of-care testing should be used to guide goal-directed haemostatic treatment. Tranexamic acid should be administered as soon as abnormal bleeding is recognised. Fibrinogen concentrate rather than fresh frozen plasma should be administered to restore haemostasis where there is elevated risk of fibrinogen deficiency (e.g., in catastrophic bleeding or in cases of abruption or amniotic fluid embolism) as it is a more concentrated source of fibrinogen. Lastly, organisational considerations are equally as important as clinical interventions in the management of PPH and have the potential to improve patient outcomes.