A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF POSTPARTUM BLOOD LOSS BY VISUAL ESTIMATION METHOD AND BY GRAVIMETRIC METHOD

Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate postpartum blood loss visually and by gravimetric method and compare the both. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMC Amritsar on 100 pregnant women satisfying the inclusion criteria over a period of 1.5 years. Patient’s consent was taken and visual estimation was done by the attending obstetrician and obstetric nurse. Total blood loss was calculated using gravimetric method and was compared to value given by visual estimation. Furthermore, comparison was done between the visual estimation values of the attending obstetrician and the obstetric nurse. Results: Obstetrician observed 21.47% less blood loss than the actual (by gravimetric method) blood loss. Obstetric nurse observed 20.01% less blood loss than the obstetrician and 37.19% less than the actual loss. Conclusion: Visual estimation underestimates the actual blood loss and, hence, an objective gravimetric method should be used for early and effective management of PPH