Chua et al identified risk factors for blood transfusion in a woman undergoing cesarean section. A woman without any of these risk factors is very unlikely to require a blood transfusion. The authors are from Westmead Hospital in New South Wales, Australia.
Risk factors for transfusion:
(1) placental praevia
(2) placental abruption
(3) emergency cesarean section
(4) preoperative hemoglobin < 105 g/L
A history of previous cesarean section, non-reassuring fetal heart rate and failure to progress were associated with a reduced risk for transfusion.
The authors suggest that routine blood type and screen on patients without any of the risk factors is unnecessary.
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