Thromb Haemostasis
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Severe postpartum haemorrhages (PPH) are responsible for maternal morbidity/mortality. Their complex management sometimes requires haemostatic supplementation, and therapeutic trials on fibrinogen or activated factor VII, which may add to the thrombotic risk, are currently being considered. Furthermore, there is a risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during the postpartum period, hence we studied the relationship between severe PPH and VTE in women during their first pregnancy. ⋯ Severe PPH or packed RBC unit transfusion were associated with postpartum SVT (adjusted relative risk: 5.3 (1.6-17) and 4.7 (1.5-15) respectively), independent of caesarean section delivery and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) use in the postpartum, but were not independent indicators of one another. This the VTE and SVT risks associated with severe PPH are low (<1% and <2%, respectively). Severe PPH increases the risk of postpartum SVT, but transfusion with platelet units and plasma supplementation using fresh frozen plasma or fibrinogen concentrates do not markedly modulate the risk of venous thrombosis.