June 2020

<aside> 💡 The QBL Calculator app helps nurses measure blood loss.

</aside>

A few weeks ago, my dad had told me about a problem at his work (he works at a hospital). During labor and delivery, the nurses have to measure the total blood loss of the mother, but there's no way for the nurses to accurately measure the total blood loss every time. I wanted to make an app that would calculate this value for them. My dad and I came up with a formula that included all of the variables that contribute to total blood loss.

Problem

During labor and delivery, the nurses have to measure the total quantitative blood loss (QBL) of the patient. However, there is no way for the nurses to accurately measure blood loss every time. In order to do so, the nurses have to sit down and do every calculation manually for each patient.

Solution

I first came up with a formula that included all of the variables that contributed to blood loss. There are two types of labor: C-section and vaginal delivery.

Variables for C-section:

• a = Final bag volume
• b = Amniotic fluid volume
• c = Sleeves/sponges weight 1
• d = Sleeves/sponges weight 2
• e = Number of sleeves/sponges used
• f = Blue towels weight
• g = Number of blue towels used

Formula for C-section: a + b - (c * 135) - (d * 40) - (e * 40) - f - g

Variables for vaginal delivery:

• a = Total canister volume
• b = Amniotic fluid volume
• c = Sleeves/sponges/chux weight
• d = Number of sleeves used
• e = Number of chux used
• f = Fundal express

Formula for vaginal delivery: a - b + c - (d * 6.4) + e - (f * 50.8)

Design

A simple UI/UX was my main priority in making this app. The nurses are always on the go and need an interface that is simple and easy to use. Because I don’t have much experience with front-end coding yet, I decided to use Glide to make the first version of the app. With Glide, the nurses are able to quickly download the app and start using it right away. QBL Calculator is now being used at Fountain Valley Hospital by over 50 nurses.

I am currently working on rebuilding this app in Javascript so that I can add more functionality features.

Try the app here