Fetomaternal hemorrhage in women undergoing elective cesarean section

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the degree of fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) caused by elective cesarean section.

DESIGN: Descriptive study.

SETTINGS: University Hospitals in Copenhagen, Denmark.

POPULATION: Women scheduled for elective cesarean section, in the period September 2007 to January 2009, at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

METHODS: Two maternal blood samples were taken, the first before cesarean section and the second immediately after. Both samples were analyzed at the Blood Bank, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, for the presence of fetal red blood cells (fRBCs) using flow cytometry. FMH associated with cesarean section was defined as the difference between the volumes of fRBCs in the two samples.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The frequency and volume of FMH caused by elective cesarean section.

RESULTS: 207 women were included in the study. FMH was detected in 38 cases (18.4%). Of these, 22 women (10.6%) had FMH of less than 1 ml fRBCs, 13 women (6.3%) had FMH between 1 and 4 ml fRBCs, and three women (1.4%) had FMH above 4 ml fRBCs.

CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence for recommending general screening for FMH in connection with elective cesarean section, provided guidelines such as the current Danish guidelines for Rhesus prophylaxis are followed.