Efficacy of rotational thromboelastometry for diagnosis and correction of coagulopathy in massive postpartum hemorrhage: a cohort retrospective multi-center DiPTEM study

INTRODUCTION: Continuous monitoring of the hemostasis system during postpartum hemorrhage is an essential aspect of intensive care. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) provides rapid and differentiated detection of hemostasis system disorders. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of implementing the rotational thromboelastometry on the need for blood transfusion in massive postpartum hemorrhage in the practice of perinatal centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort multicenter study was conducted in two perinatal centers. The BEFORE group included females with massive postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) (> 30 % of circulating blood volume (CBV) or > 2 L) within 2 years prior to ROTEM implementation in tertiary care hospitals; the AFTER group included females with massive postpartum hemorrhage within 2 years after ROTEM implementation. The primary endpoint of the study was a comparative evaluation of the frequency of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion for hemostasis correction in massive PPH before and after ROTEM implementation as an urgent method for coagulopathy diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 97 patients were included in the study: 48 in the BEFORE group and 49 in the AFTER group. A significant relative risk (RR) of reduced frequency of FFP transfusion RR = 0.53 (0.32, 0.85; p = 0.009) with NNT = 3.6 after implementation of ROTEM into clinical practice was found. The frequency of cryoprecipitate transfusion increased. Analysis of cases of PPH over 50 % of the CBV (PPH in the BEFORE and AFTER groups 68.2 ± 12.4 and 72.3 ± 35.9, respectively, p = 0.673) showed a twofold significant risk of reducing the number of parturient women requiring FFP transfusion: RR = 0.5 (0.25, 0.99); p = 0.049), with NNT = 2. CONCLUSION: Rapid information on the status of the hemostasis system can reduce unnecessary FFP transfusion. Introducing the ROTEM method into the clinical practice of obstetric hospitals will improve the outcomes of intensive care for one of the most challenging categories of patients — postpartum women with massive postpartum hemorrhage.