Gentle instrumented uterine cavity assessment in comparison to manual assessment and its association to post-partum hemorrhage

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate that the gentle instrumental uterine cavity assessment largely prevents postpartum hemorrhage in comparison to the manual assessment.

Methods: Cross-sectional, observational, descriptive, and associative study on patients admitted to the labor-surgical units of two public hospitals in the State of México, using a convenience sample (patients to whom a uterine cavity assessment was performed during their labor process) of 236.

Results: There were 76 total cases of post-partum hemorrhage. Patients were classified in three age groups: adolescents, optimal reproductive age, and advanced maternal age. Post-partum hemorrhage cases were prevalent in the first and third groups with 34.4% and 48.3% respectively. The manual uterine cavity assessment technique resulted in a higher prevalence of postpartum hemorrhage. More post-partum hemorrhage cases were also found in those patients at- tended by inexpert staff. Perinatal Nursing Specialists, conducted 97 childbirth care procedures, 25 had Postpartum Hemorrhage, compared to 72 who did not have the pathology.

Conclusions: The manual uter ine cavity assessment technique, is closely associated with the onset of Postpartum Hemorrhage, Gentle instrumented uterine cavity assessment resulted in a lower incidence of post-partum hemorrhage. In order to decrease post-partum complications, the uterine cavity assessment must be performed through precise procedures.