Effects of In-utero Cord Blood Collection on Post-operative Hemoglobin Levels

Elective cesarean deliveries that occurred in Ankara University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology between March 2014 and February 2015 were enrolled in the study. Deliveries were divided into two groups depending whether cord blood was collected or not. All cesarean deliveries were performed via Joel-Cohen incisions. Cord blood was harvested in-utero, i.e. while leaving the placenta inside the uterus, after delivery of the baby and clamping of the cord. After UCB collection, placenta was delivered and hysterotomy site was repaired in one layer with continuous locking. Postpartum hemorrhage prophylaxis were performed with one dose of 0.2 mg methylergonovine maleate. Postoperatively patients were hydrated with 100cc per hour infusion of isotonic liquids and bloods were drawn at eight hours postoperatively for control blood counts. Amount of blood loss was estimated by subtracting preoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit levels from postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit. Delta hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were compared between two groups. Correlation between amount of UCB collected and blood loss was also analysed.

Patients without a preoperative blood count within 30 days prior to delivery were excluded from the study, along with patients with history of bleeding 30 days prior to delivery. Emergent cesarean deliveries, postpartum bleeding due to uterine atony, retained placenta, cesarean deliveries performed due to placental adhesion abnormalities (placenta previa, placenta accreta), patients on anticoagulation regimens (aspirin, low molecular weight heparin, heparin), patients with a post-operative haemoglobin level higher than pre-operative levels were all excluded from the study. Patients were selected at random from birth register by two people who are blind to pre and post-operative blood count results.