Haemorrhage in gestation

Abstract

A haemorrhage is one of the most frequent, and potentially most serious, causes for emergency consultation during gestation. In this review we offer an overall approach to managing a pregnant woman who attends Accidents and Emergencies due to vaginal bleeding and then, in a more specific way, we consider how to manage some of the most frequent entities of the obstetric haemorrhage. With respect to haemorrhages in the second trimester, we give greater attention to how to manage a miscarriage, since other entities that are also frequent receive a specific evaluation in other chapters. In the second trimester three entities account for the greatest percentage of haemorrhages, such as placenta praevia, the premature detachment of the normally inserted placenta and uterine rupture. In each case we have evaluated the etiopathology, diagnostic attitude and management in the most systematic way possible.