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OP72 Visual multidisciplinary estimation and measurement of blood loss in elective caesarean delivery at Mater Dei hospital

rapm · 2025-09-10 · canonical JSON source

10 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Background and Aims The obstetric population is one which may experience significant blood loss during elective Caesarean delivery. This is not routinely measured at Mater Dei Hospital (MDH), and may cause significant morbidity and mortality if not recognised. The aim was to compare measured blood loss with visual multidisciplinary estimation of blood loss during elective Caesarean section at MDH.Methods This study is a prospective observational research study, carried out in November and December 2023. Approval from the University of Malta Ethics Committee, the MDH Data Protection Office and the relevant clinical Chairpersons was obtained. Information sheets were given to, and written consent was obtained from, each participant. All pregnant patients 18 years of age or older undergoing elective Caesarean delivery under subarachnoid block, epidural anaesthesia, combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia, or general anaesthesia were included. Demographic data, pre-operative blood results, measured volume of fluid in surgical suction canister, measured net weight of swabs, and visual estimation of blood loss from the most senior anaesthetist, the most senior obstetrician and the scrub nurse in theatre were obtained.Results 88 participants were included (67 ASA1, 20 ASA2); median age: 34 years. Median measured blood loss: 607.5 ml; median anaesthetist blood loss visual estimation: 500 ml, IQR 350 ml; median scrub nurse blood loss visual estimation: 500 ml, IQR 300 ml; median obstetrician blood loss visual estimation: 500 ml, IQR 280 ml. Chi-square tests for total measured blood loss versus: 1. anaesthetist visual estimation: p<0.001; 2. scrub nurse visual estimation p=0.08; 3. obstetrician visual estimation p=0.002.Conclusions The visual estimations of all three groups underestimated the actual total measured blood loss. The anaesthetists’ visual estimations were the most statistically significant, followed by the obstetricians’. The scrub nurse visual estimations were not statistically significant in this study. There was no statistically significant difference in the visual estimation of blood loss between different grades of anaesthetists and obstetricians.