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CompletedNCT01885845Updated Jun 25, 2013

Excellent BRASSS-V Drape™ Versus Indirect Measurement Protocol for Measurement of Postpartum Blood Loss

An interventional study of Excellent BRASSS-V Drape™. and Indirect weight assesment of blood loss in Postpartum Hemorrhage, sponsored by Gynuity Health Projects. Completed at 1 site in India. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2013-06-25.

Sponsored by Gynuity Health Projects · Not applicable and Interventional

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
900
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the most common causes of maternal mortality and serious maternal morbidity, especially in the developing world. In India, hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal mortality: A study by the Register General in 1993 showed that 23 percent of all maternal deaths in rural areas were caused by hemorrhage (Sibley, 2005).

The measurement of postpartum blood loss and identification of postpartum hemorrhage are important measures in efforts to prevent and treat postpartum hemorrhage. In recent years, researchers have employed several different methods to measure blood loss in hospital and community-based birth settings. Although research has demonstrated that these laboratory measures are more accurate then visual estimation techniques, no studies have explicitly documented the systematic differences (if any) among different collection modalities. Moreover, only a few of these studies have correlated measured blood loss with changes in hemoglobin levels experienced between the antepartum and postpartum period. The aim of this study is to compare variations in the measurement of blood loss obtained using two popular measurement methods: the Excellent BRASSS-V Drape™ and a modified version of the blood collection method developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Read the detailed description

Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the most common causes of maternal mortality and serious maternal morbidity, especially in the developing world. In India, hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal mortality: A study by the Register General in 1993 showed that 23 percent of all maternal deaths in rural areas were caused by hemorrhage (Sibley, 2005).

The measurement of postpartum blood loss and identification of postpartum hemorrhage are important measures in efforts to prevent and treat postpartum hemorrhage. However, visual estimation of postpartum hemorrhage often leads to underestimation of blood loss and subsequent delays in the seeking or provision of appropriate treatment. In recent years, researchers have employed several different methods to measure blood loss in hospital and community-based birth settings. Although research has demonstrated that these laboratory measures are more accurate then visual estimation techniques, no studies have explicitly documented the systematic differences (if any) among different collection modalities. Moreover, only a few of these studies have correlated measured blood loss with changes in hemoglobin levels experienced between the antepartum and postpartum period. The aim of this study is to compare variations in the measurement of blood loss obtained using two popular measurement methods: the Excellent BRASSS-V Drape™ and a modified version of the blood collection method developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

We propose a randomized prospective study to compare the measurement of blood loss during the third stage of labor with two different methods: the modified WHO blood measurement protocol and the Excellent BRASSS-V Drape™. Upon admission in the labor ward, study staff will approach all delivering women about participation in the study and seek informed consent. Blood loss will be measured for all consenting women with vaginal deliveries.

Women who agree to participate will be randomized to one of two blood collection techniques: a modified version of the WHO blood measurement protocol or the Excellent BRASSS-V Drape™. Blood loss will be measured from immediately after delivery and cord clamping for a period of at least one hour or until active bleeding stops. The blood loss will then be quantified by the study staff and recorded on the study form. Women will receive the facility's standard care for the management of the third stage of labor and, if applicable, treatment of PPH.

Measures of postpartum hemoglobin levels will be taken at admission for delivery and twenty-four hours post-delivery for a randomly selected sub-set of study participants. Besides the measurement of blood loss and the regular measurement of hemoglobin for a sub-sample of participants, there will be no change to the hospital's standard procedures for labor and delivery.

02

Conditions studied

  • Postpartum Hemorrhage

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Keywords

  • postpartum blood loss measurement
  • BRASSS-V drape
03

In context

Postpartum Hemorrhage

456 studies on the registry are indexed under Postpartum Hemorrhage; 77 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 900 is above the median of 148 across 348 interventional studies indexed under Postpartum Hemorrhage.

Browse Postpartum Hemorrhage studies →

Lead sponsor

Gynuity Health Projects is the lead sponsor of 113 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Vaginal birth
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
900 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    BRASSS-V drape

    Immediately after delivery and cord clamping, blood measurement will begin. The calibrated delivery drape should be placed under the buttocks of the woman and tied around the woman's waist with the funnel portion hanging down between her legs. Blood loss will be measured for at least one hour or, if bleeding continues after one hour, until active bleeding has stopped.

    Device: Excellent BRASSS-V Drape™.

  • Experimental
    Indirect weight method

    Just after delivery and cord clamping, a sheet with plastic backing will be placed under the buttocks of the woman. A basin will be placed directly under her on a small shelf on the delivery table. Blood loss will be measured for at least one hour or, if bleeding continues after one hour, until active bleeding has stopped. After bleeding has stopped, all gauze pieces and mops will be counted and then placed in the collection basin. The basin will be placed on the scale and weighed. The weight of the blood will be assessed by subtracting the weight of the basin, gauzes and mops from the total weight of the soaked materials assuming that one gram is equivalent to 1 ml.

    Other: Indirect weight assesment of blood loss

Interventions

  • DeviceExcellent BRASSS-V Drape™.

    Immediately after delivery and cord clamping, blood measurement will begin. The calibrated delivery drape should be placed under the buttocks of the woman and tied around the woman's waist with the funnel portion hanging down between her legs. Blood loss will be measured for at least one hour or, if bleeding continues after one hour, until active bleeding has stopped.

  • OtherIndirect weight assesment of blood loss

    Just after delivery and cord clamping, a sheet with plastic backing will be placed under the buttocks of the woman. A basin will be placed directly under her on a small shelf on the delivery table. Blood loss will be measured for at least one hour or, if bleeding continues after one hour, until active bleeding has stopped. After bleeding has stopped, all gauze pieces and mops will be counted and then placed in the collection basin. The basin will be placed on the scale and weighed. The weight of the blood will be assessed by subtracting the weight of the basin, gauzes and mops from the total weight of the soaked materials assuming that one gram is equivalent to 1 ml.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean blood loss

    Time frame: after delivery to when active bleeding has stopped or at least one hour

07

Study locations

1 site
  • KEM Hospital
    Pune, India
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Ambardekar S, Shochet T, Bracken H, Coyaji K, Winikoff B. Calibrated delivery drape versus indirect gravimetric technique for the measurement of blood loss after delivery: a randomized trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014 Aug 15;14:276. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-14-276. PubMed 25128176 ↗
09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 25, 2013, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01885845
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 25, 2013
Start date
Nov 2005
Primary completion
Sep 2007
Completion
Sep 2007
Last update
Jun 25, 2013

Study contacts

Hillary Bracken, PhD
study director · Gynuity Health Projects

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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