Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of anemia and need for blood transfusion among 100 patients of placental abruption.

DESIGN: Prospective and Observational case Study.

SETTING & DURATION: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, SMBB Medical University Larkana for a period of 15 months from September 2010 to December 2011.

MATERIALS & METHODS: All the pregnant ladies who presented with the signs and symptoms of Abruptio Placentae during the period of study were selected by completing a proforma for each patient. After confirming the diagnosis, the blood of these patients was sent to laboratory for haemoglobin percentage, blood group and other routine investigations. According to haemoglobin percentage and the amount of bleeding, the number of blood units required for transfusion by each patient was recorded. The data was analyzed on SPSS version 15.

RESULTS: 100 patients suffering from placental abruption were studied during a period of 15 months. 83% of these ladies with abruptio placentae were anaemic and 61 were moderate to severely anemic. 98% received blood transfusion and majority (91%) of them received 1-4 units of blood. O+ve was the commonest (42%) blood group.

CONCLUSION: Majority of patients presenting with placental abruption are found to be anemic hence require multiple blood transfusions. The association between anaemia and Placental abruption is well documented by many studies, however it needs to establish whether the anaemia leads to abruption or anaemia is the consequence of abruption by further studies.

Key words: Anaemia, abruptio placenta, blood transfusion.