Patient Blood Management Guidelines: Module 5 Obstetrics and Maternity

The fifth in a series of six evidence-based guidelines, the Obstetrics and Maternity module was approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) on 22 December 2014 and released on 23 March 2015.

Module 5 is intended to assist and guide health-care professionals in making clinical decisions when managing pregnant and postpartum women.

Module 5 introduces expert opinion points (EOPs), to complement the recommendations and practice points. EOPs were developed by the Clinical/Consumer Reference Group where relevant guidance, outside of the scope of the systematic review, was required. The module includes EOPs on anaemia, transfusion support, adapting or modifying a massive transfusion protocol, and care of patients in whom a transfusion is not an option.

The Obstetrics and Maternity module and accompanying resources can be accessed by clicking on the relevant links below.

• Module 5 Obstetrics and Maternity (pdf) (1.15 MB)
• Module 5 Obstetrics and Maternity Online (html)
• Quick Reference Guide Obstetrics and Maternity (pdf) (1.34 MB)
• Online order form to request hard copies for free (within Australia and New Zealand only) 
• Technical Report Obstetrics and Maternity - Volume 1 (2.33 MB) - Review of Evidence
• Technical Report Obstetrics and Maternity - Volume 2 (3.53 MB) - Appendixes

• Published literature based on Background Question 4 – Care of patients in whom transfusion is not an option¹.

^1. Kidson-Gerber G, Kerridge I, Farmer S, Stewart CL, Savoia H, Challis D. Caring for pregnant women for whom transfusion is not an option – A national review to assist in patient care. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2016 Apr;56(2):127-36.

College & Society Endorsements

The National Blood Authority greatly appreciates and acknowledges the input received from the clinical community in producing the Patient Blood Management Guidelines. We are pleased to acknowledge that the following organisations have formally endorsed Module 5 - Obstetrics and Maternity.

• Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
• Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine
• Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
• Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion
• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
• Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
• College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand
• Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand

Review and update of the PBM Guidelines

The NBA is currently considering the review and update process across the entire suite of modules rather than each module being updated in an isolated and iterative process. The aim is to transition to a sustainable and updateable methodology that will enable updates as the evidence base and clinical practice evolves. For more information please refer to the Patient Blood Management Guidelines Progress Update webpage.

For more information

To provide feedback and inform future reviews of this module, please send any comments on its content or implementation, or on the accompanying materials, to the project manager at:

• Email guidelines@blood.gov.au
• Mail:
  Patient Blood Management Guidelines
  National Blood Authority
  Locked Bag 8430
  Canberra ACT 2601
• Fax (02) 6151 5300