Excessive haemorrhage associated with caesarean section, commonly defined as blood loss in excess of 1000 ml, is frequently underestimated, but is documented as occurring in more than 5–10% of caesarean sections. Common causes are uterine atony, abnormal placentation, uterine trauma and sepsis. It is a major cause of maternal morbidity globally and of maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries; however, many reports do not disaggregate it from postpartum haemorrhage in general. In this chapter, we outline preventive measures, including uterotonic agents, and provide treatment algorithms for managing excessive haemorrhage during and after caesarean section. Several management options, including uterotonic therapy, uterine compression sutures, balloon tamponade, blood-vessel ligation and uterine artery embolisation are described; each has a role for treating the different causes of caesarean section bleeding in different contexts.
Caesarean hysterectomy is indicated when medical and conservative surgical measures are unsuccessful, and as first-line surgery for extensive uterine rupture and bleeding from morbidly adherent placentae. It has an incidence ranging from 1–4 per 1000 caesarean sections, significantly greater than that for vaginal delivery. Although it is a life-saving procedure, it is associated with significant morbidity, including massive blood transfusion and intensive care (10–48%), urological injury (8%) and the need for relook laparotomy (8–18%).
Introduction
Excessive haemorrhage during and after caesarean section is a serious adverse event, accounting for major morbidity and associated with maternal mortality in well-resourced and poorly resourced settings.
Caesarean hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure most commonly carried out as an emergency life-saving procedure for intractable obstetric haemorrhage. Less commonly, it may be carried out as a semi-elective procedure when operable cervical carcinoma is diagnosed during pregnancy.
Excessive haemorrhage associated with caesarean section
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) at caesarean section is commonly defined as blood loss of 1000 ml or more. The Australian College of Obstetricians define PPH at caesarean section as blood loss greater than 750 ml, and other definitions use 500 ml irrespective of mode of delivery.
Blood loss greater than 1500 ml is described as severe PPH, with blood loss greater than 2500 ml constituting massive blood loss. Some definitions of PPH at caesarean section include a change in haematocrit of more than 10%, the need for blood transfusion, further surgical procedures, or both. Definitions of PPH at caesarean section need to be standardised.
Excessive blood loss can be intra-operative, but may also occur postoperatively through vaginal bleeding or concealed intra-peritoneal bleeding. The latter problem is frequently unrecognised by attending health workers.
Excessive haemorrhage associated with caesarean section
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) at caesarean section is commonly defined as blood loss of 1000 ml or more. The Australian College of Obstetricians define PPH at caesarean section as blood loss greater than 750 ml, and other definitions use 500 ml irrespective of mode of delivery.
Blood loss greater than 1500 ml is described as severe PPH, with blood loss greater than 2500 ml constituting massive blood loss. Some definitions of PPH at caesarean section include a change in haematocrit of more than 10%, the need for blood transfusion, further surgical procedures, or both. Definitions of PPH at caesarean section need to be standardised.
Excessive blood loss can be intra-operative, but may also occur postoperatively through vaginal bleeding or concealed intra-peritoneal bleeding. The latter problem is frequently unrecognised by attending health workers.
Accuracy of blood loss estimation
Estimation of total blood loss during and after caesarean section is problematic owing to difficulties in accurate collection. Blood may be collected in suction bottles where it is mixed with liquor, and blood-loss estimation from soaked swabs and theatre linen is usually by visual inspection only. Blood loss in the few hours after caesarean section is estimated by inspecting vaginal pads and bed linen. Visual estimation of blood loss during and after caesarean section or vaginal delivery is notoriously inaccurate, tending to overestimate at lower blood loss and underestimate at higher blood loss.
Fifty years ago, Pritchard et al. estimated average blood loss at caesarean section to be 930 ml using a technique involving chromium labelled red blood cells. Such techniques are too complex to use in clinical practice. Several studies prefer to use haematocrit changes, the need for blood transfusion, or both, as more reliable indicators of excess bleeding.
Stafford et al. used a formula that calculates blood loss based on haematocrit changes before and after caesarean section, maternal weight and height, and found that visual estimation significantly underestimated blood loss compared with calculated blood loss, particularly for blood loss in excess of 1000 ml and 1500 ml.
Incidence of excessive blood loss associated with caesarean section
The incidence of excessive blood loss associated with caesarean section is context specific, depending on the obstetric case mix at the particular level of care studied, and varies from 3–10% of caesarean section deliveries. A study of 4836 caesarean sections by Magann et al. in Perth, Australia, where blood loss was measured from collection drapes and weighing soaked swabs, showed the postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) rate for caesarean section (blood loss > 1000 ml) to be 4.84% for elective caesarean section and 6.75% for emergency caesarean section ( P = 0.007). The PPH rate for blood loss greater than 1500 ml was 3.04% for emergency caesarean section. The same study is one of the few to evaluate risk factors for PPH at caesarean section. It found that previous retained placenta, blood disorders, antepartum transfusion, preterm birth and general anaesthesia were risk factors for PPH after emergency caesarean section. Leiomyomata, placenta praevia, antepartum bleeding, preterm birth and general anaesthesia were risk factors for PPH after elective caesarean section. Combs et al. indirectly estimated blood loss using haematocrit changes, the need for blood transfusion, or both, and gave a caesarean section PPH rate of 5.9%. The investigators showed that general anaesthesia, pre-eclampsia, prolonged first and second stage of labour, chorioamnionitis, pre-eclampsia and Hispanic ethnicity, all to be risk factors for PPH at caesarean section. Naef et al. described a caesarean section PPH rate of 7.9%, based on estimation of blood loss greater than 1500 ml, haematocrit changes, the need for blood transfusion, or all three. This study showed that Native American ethnicity, prolonged active labour, and obesity were all risk factors. It would be useful to evaluate risk factors in other settings, such as rural districts in Africa, or other poorly resourced settings, where prolonged obstructed labour is more common and anaemia more prevalent.
Lower-segment caesarean section is associated with less blood loss than classical or upper segment caesarean section.
In clinical practice, knowledge of risk factors for caesarean section PPH enables adequate planning for level of care, availability of blood products, and availability of skilled surgical assistance.
Causes of excessive blood loss associated with caesarean section
Excessive bleeding at caesarean section may be caused by uterine atony, trauma, placental site bleeding, abruptio placenta, and adhesions. These are discussed below.
Uterine atony
Uterine atony is particularly common after prolonged labour and in the presence of chorioamnionitis, but also occurs with caesarean section for multiple pregnancy, and polyhydramnios.
Trauma
Trauma refers to uterine tears and lacerations, including lateral tears into the uterine vessels in the broad ligament and vertical tears down the lower segment. Trauma may be caused by a difficult delivery of the baby; an impacted fetal head after prolonged second-stage of labour, or obstructed labour being particularly high risk for excessive bleeding. In addition, caesarean section for transverse lie and large baby may be associated with uterine tears and surgical extension of the incision into the upper segment. Faulty surgical technique with the uterine incision being made too low on the lower segment or too lateral on one side of the uterus may cause traumatic bleeding, as can too rapid a delivery or excessive force used to deliver the fetal head.
Placental site bleeding
Placental side bleeding most commonly occurs with placenta praevia and morbidly adherent placenta, but may also occur with an excessively large placental site (i.e. for multiple pregnancies and diabetic mothers). With increasing rates of morbidly adherent placenta associated with higher caesarean section rates, this cause is becoming more frequent.
Abruptio placentae
Caesarean section is recommended for abruptio placentae when the fetus is alive. If complicated by a large retroplacental clot and couvelaire uterus, however, adequate uterine contraction does not occur, resulting in severe haemorrhage.
Adhesions
Caesarean section carried out in the presence of extensive adhesions usually from a previous caesarean section, requires sharp dissection and causes more intra-operative haemorrhage. The causes of haemorrhage at caesarean section include all those from the commonly used ‘four Ts’ classification (tissue, trauma, tone, thrombin) but, in addition, include aspects of surgical injury to the uterus or other soft tissues.
Mortality and morbidity caused by excessive haemorrhage associated with caesarean section
Excessive haemorrhage is a major cause of severe acute maternal morbidity in well-resourced settings. For example, in Scotland, which has an ongoing audit of severe acute maternal morbidity, massive obstetric haemorrhage (>2500 ml) accounted for 50% of all severe morbidity between 2000 and 2002. The rate of massive obstetric haemorrhage was 3.7 per 1000 births, with 41% having had an emergency caesarean section and 17.2% an elective caesarean section. This compares with a rate of 15% emergency caesarean section for all Scottish births. Data from some well-resourced settings indicate that PPH-related morbidity is increasing, and this correlates with rising caesarean section rates.
In poorly resourced countries, PPH is a major cause of maternal morbidity and is also the most common cause of maternal death.
Not many country reports disaggregate the proportion of haemorrhage deaths specifically related to bleeding associated with caesarean section. It can be postulated, however, that, in poorly resourced settings where cephalopelvic disproportion is prevalent, prolonged labour and sepsis would contribute to bleeding associated with caesarean section. Shortage of surgical skills may mean that less experienced personnel carry out caesarean sections, with minimal support.
In South Africa, which has an established national confidential enquiry into maternal deaths, bleeding associated with caesarean section was the most common cause of maternal deaths from obstetric haemorrhage between 2008 and 2010, accounting for 180 (26.2%) of the 688 maternal deaths caused by obstetric haemorrhage. Related morbidities included obstructed labour, previous caesarean section, abruptio placentae and placenta praevia. Most of these deaths were clearly avoidable. Lack of surgical skill to achieve haemostasis at the initial caesarean section, lack of skill to carry out the additional surgical measures required to arrest haemorrhage, and poor post-caesarean section monitoring were all avoidable factors. Such problems may occur in other poorly resourced countries where a serious lack of skills is evident, especially in more remote rural hospitals.
The most recent confidential enquiry into maternal deaths in the UK shows a sustained and marked reduction of maternal mortality caused by obstetric haemorrhage.
Prevention and early detection of excessive haemorrhage associated with caesarean section
The following steps should be taken to minimise haemorrhage associated with caesarean section and to ensure early detection when it does occur.
Correct management of labour
Correct management of labour using the partogram is necessary so that prolonged labour is diagnosed timeously, the appropriate interventions made, and emergency caesarean section for this indication is carried out before labour becomes obstructed.
Unnecessary surgery
Unnecessary caesarean section should be avoided.
Experience and training
A caesarean section, which is high risk for haemorrhage (i.e. major placenta praevia or suspected placenta accreta) should be carried out at the appropriate level of care by the most experienced surgeon. In many low-income countries, this may be difficult because of problems in making a diagnosis in advance, and junior doctors could be faced with this type of scenario on their own in a remote rural hospital setting. Prior surgical training of this cadre of doctors, and the availability of a functional telephonic link to a specialist in a referral hospital, would be helpful in this situation.
Optimising haemoglobin
Haemoglobin optimisation before delivery by prevention, early detection and treatment of anaemia can minimise haemorrhage associated with caesarean section.
Surgical techniques
Surgical techniques that have been shown, by available evidence, to reduce blood loss should be used. The use of blunt dissection rather than sharp dissection for abdominal entry and controlled cord traction rather than manual removal to deliver the placenta have both been shown to reduce blood loss at caesarean section. As caesarean section is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide, there is a tendency among surgeons to ‘break the 10 minute’ barrier and compete to do the shortest duration caesarean section. In such a situation, due care to ensure correct uterine closure, particularly of the angles of the surgical incision, and careful checking for haemostasis, may be neglected.
Prophylactic uterotonics and medication at caesarean section
A uterotonic agent needs to be given after delivery of the baby to cause placental separation and expulsion, and to ensure uterine contraction, as with active management of third stage of labour. This has been shown to reduce the risk of PPH after vaginal delivery by 60%. The uterotonic regimen for which there is most evidence of efficacy, with minimal side-effect profile, is 10 iu oxytocin intramuscularly. Debate has taken place between anaesthetists and obstetricians on the appropriate choice of uterotonic agent at caesarean section, its dosage, and route of administration. The aim, however, is to ensure optimal uterine contraction, and the anaesthetist is also concerned about possible intra-operative side-effects. Hypotension has been shown to follow rapid intravenous boluses of oxytocin in doses greater than 5 iu, and hypertension, vomiting, or both, may be a side-effect of ergometrine; both of these agents are effective in preventing PPH. Shivering and pyrexia may follow misoprostol administration, but this agent has been shown to be inferior to other agents in the prevention of PPH. Current evidence recommends that the lowest intravenous bolus of oxytocin to achieve adequate uterine contraction at caesarean section is 5 iu given over a few minutes; and it has the least side-effect profile. An alternative suggested by some anaesthetic guidelines is to administer a 2.5 iu intravenous bolus of oxytocin slowly, and concurrently administer a prophylactic oxytocin infusion of 10 iu in 1 L fluid. One randomised-controlled trial has been conducted on the use of carbetocin, a longer-acting oxytocin, which has similar efficacy and reduces the need for the infusion. It is expensive, however, and not readily available in most settings. In one prospective audit of introducing prophylactic intramuscular ergometrine at caesarean section in addition to intravenous oxytocin 5 iu, a reduction in delayed PPH was reported, but an increase in side-effects of nausea and vomiting was found. There seems to be no role for prophylactic use of prostaglandin preparations at caesarean section.
Recently, attention has focused on the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) to reduce blood loss if given prophylactically at caesarean section. This is not a uterotonic agent; TXA is an anti-fibrinolytic agent better known to gynaecologists for oral use as treatment of menorrhagia, and to trauma surgeons where it has been shown to reduce blood loss. Preliminary trials show that, given prophylactically at caesarean section, TXA does reduce blood loss and the need for additional uterotonics. Concern remains about the potential of TXA to promote venous thrombosis (VTE) in the context of a physiological state when VTE risk is already increased. This has not been confirmed in any of the studies, although most have not been powered for this outcome;
Vigilant post-caesarean section monitoring
Early detection of ongoing vaginal bleeding can be detected by deteriorating vital signs measured in the recovery area. It is important that both anaesthetist and recovery nurse ensure that ongoing bleeding is not occurring before transfer to a postnatal ward. Women at high risk should be monitored in a high-care area. Frequent observations need to be continued in the postnatal ward, and action taken on abnormal findings. This can be a problem in low-resource settings where staffing may be inadequate to monitor at the correct frequency, meaning that post-caesarean section bleeding is detected when it as at an advanced stage and the woman already in hypovolaemic shock. In addition, the attendant health workers need to have a high index of suspicion for ongoing intra-peritoneal bleeding when vital signs are deteriorating in the absence of vaginal bleeding.
The colour coded Maternity Early Warning monitoring charts pioneered in the UK may be a useful addition to monitoring by assisting the interpretation of abnormal measurements.
Resuscitation for excessive haemorrhage at caesarean section
Resuscitation for excessive haemorrhage at caesarean section will be carried out by the anaesthetist; good communication between anaesthetist and surgeon is essential to ensure that the former is aware of ongoing excessive bleeding and the latter is informed about the haemodynamic status of the patient. Most caesarean sections are carried out under spinal anaesthesia, but the anaesthetist will need to convert to a general anaesthetic in the event of severe ongoing haemorrhage.
Blood loss of 1000 ml requires blood samples to be taken for haemoglobin, coagulations studies and emergency cross-matching.
Fluid resuscitation is aimed at restoring intravascular volume and maintaining cardiac output. It requires two large bore intravenous cannulae and initially involves the rapid infusion of two litres of crystalloid solution. If bleeding is not controlled and the systolic blood pressure remains less than 100 mm Hg and the pulse greater than 110 beats per minute, 500 ml of a colloid should be given and repeated if necessary. A further litre of crystalloid can be given if no colloid is available. All fluids should be warmed.
Further resuscitation for ongoing hypovolaemia requires blood transfusion. This is preferably cross-matched blood, but if no on-site blood bank is available, the ‘emergency blood’ stored in the maternity area fridge can be used. Facilities carrying out caesarean section should have some form of blood products available on site. In countries with limited resources, these are usually refrigerated O Negative and O Positive units at district hospitals, with ‘blood banks’ at regional and tertiary hospitals.
Fresh frozen plasma is required after two units of red cell concentrate have been given, with a formula of one fresh frozen plasma for one unit red cell concentrate. Platelets will be needed if the haematology results show the count to be less than 50,000.
Failure to achieve a response to resuscitation implies continued bleeding, which must be identified and treated by the surgeon while resuscitation continues.
Cell-salvage techniques are of potential value in situations in which urgent availability of blood is limited, and in some women who are of the Jehovah’s Witness faith. This has been proven to be safe and effective for ectopic pregnancy. At caesarean section, however, the blood suctioned from the amniotic cavity is often mixed with amniotic fluid, and therefore could cause severe adverse reactions if transfused back into the patient. Nevertheless, in some case studies, this has been carried out with the use of special techniques to ‘clean’ the blood with success and minimal side-effects. Randomised-controlled trials are indicated before this technique is accepted as routine practice.
Management of excessive bleeding at caesarean section
It is useful to display in theatre algorithms for the management of PPH at caesarean section, as well as to have diagrams of useful techniques that may be used, such as uterine compression sutures. The algorithms presented in this chapter are currently being used in South Africa and have been published in The monograph of the management of postpartum haemorrhage , a pocket manual on PPH for healthcare workers based on current evidence-based guidelines and expert opinions.
The surgeon must diagnose the following: cause of the bleeding; uterine atony, tears and lacerations; placental site bleeding, abruptio placentae or bleeding from adhesions; and whether there is concurrent coagulopathy.
The surgeon must also monitor the response to the various measures used to arrest haemorrhage. This may be by inspecting the bleeding areas visually or inspecting vaginal blood loss. The latter is particularly important for monitoring ongoing bleeding from uterine atony or the placental bed after uterine closure at caesarean section, and can be facilitated by having the patient in the Lloyd–Davies position.
The following treatment modalities can be used to arrest bleeding at caesarean section from the different causes.
Atonic uterus
Medical treatment with stepwise use of uterotonic agents should be the first treatment option. Oxytocin infusion 20 iu/L at 120–240 ml/h should be commenced. If the woman responds poorly and is not cardiac or hypertensive, ergometrine 0.2 mgm intravenously can be given and repeated once. Current research is evaluating the safety and efficacy of lower doses of ergometrine in women who are hypertensive. The third-line uterotonic medication is a prostaglandin. This can be in the form of sublingual misoprostol with doses of 400–600 mcg. The latter dose should not be exceeded. If the woman is shocked or ventilated, the rectal route is recommended. If prostaglandin preparations, are available, carboprost can be given 0.25 mgm intramuscularly or prostaglandin F2 alpha can be given by intramyometrial injection. Care must be taken not to exceed the optimal dose, as bronchoconstriction and severe hypertension are untoward side-effects. The 5 mgm vial should be diluted with sterile water in a 20 ml syringe, and given as an intramyometrial injection of 2 ml, equivalent to 0.5 mg active ingredient. This can be repeated until a maximum of 2 mgm (8 ml of solution) has been given.
If medical treatment does not correct the uterine atony, surgical measures must be instituted and, if a junior doctor is operating, senior assistance should be sought. The B lynch uterine compression suture is the first surgical measure that should be carried out, and can be easily learned by all grades of doctor or clinical officer who carry out caesarean sections. An absorbable suture should be used. The B Lynch is carried out when the uterine cavity is open, but there are alternatives, such as the Hayman suture, when the uterine incision has been closed.
Successful outcome has been shown in case studies, defined as arresting the bleeding without the need to proceed to hysterectomy, and minimal immediate postoperative morbidity have been identified. Long-term morbidity has been less well assessed; cases of successful pregnancies after insertion have been reported. A few cases of uterine necrosis after insertion have also been reported. No major long-term side-effects have been observed when compression sutures have been combined with balloon tamponade; however, an increased risk of uterine ischaemia and necrosis has been reported when compression sutures are combined with vessel ligation. It is recommended that registers are kept of women in whom uterine compression sutures are placed to enable long-term events to be ascertained.
Trauma: lateral tears into broad ligament or tears into lower or upper segment of uterus
If the caesarean section incision has been inadvertently extended too far laterally or has torn laterally into the broad ligament during delivery of the baby; arterial bleeding from vessels of the uterine artery will occur. Haemostatic sutures placed in the broad ligament may control the bleeding but, if poorly placed, can cause a broad ligament haematoma. It is preferable to do a uterine artery ligation procedure such as the mass uterine artery ligation technique first described by O′ Leary and developed into the stepwise uterine artery devascularisation approach suggested by Abdrabbo. The suture should be placed at the level of the uterine incision; the medial placement will be in the lateral border of the uterus, and the lateral placement will be in the avascular window of broad ligament peritoneum between the uterine arteries medially and the infundibulo-pelvic ligament laterally. Some practitioners, especially gynaecologists, prefer to open the broad ligament and identify the uterine artery before ligating it.
Tears down the lower segment of uterus must be carefully identified and the apex of the tear secured. It must be sutured with a continuous absorbable suture from the apex up to the uterine incision. Then, the uterine incision must be closed. Lower-segment tears that are long and are directed laterally will lie close to the ureteric path, and some case studies have shown the ureter having been occluded by sutures placed for haemostasis. The path of the ureter at this level needs to be identified.
Tears or extension of the uterine incision into the upper uterine segment require closure as for a classical caesarean section, and must be documented in the notes. The woman will need to be managed as though she had a classical caesarean section in future pregnancies.
The surgeon should always explore the posterior surface of the uterus before closing the abdomen because posterior uterine rupture has been missed, especially after obstructed labour.
Bleeding from the placental bed
Bleeding from the placental bed is mostly associated with placenta praevia and a morbidly adherent placenta in any part of the uterus. Uterotonic medical treatment should be commenced, but is frequently insufficient to reduce this type of bleeding. It is best managed surgically by additional haemostatic ‘figure of eight’ sutures. Excessive bleeding of the lower segment can be successfully managed in many cases by balloon tamponade. A purpose-designed tamponade system, such as the Cook-Bakri, or Rusch catheter, can be used or a ‘home made’ device using a condom or sterile glove as the balloon attached to a Foley’s catheter This would be inserted with the balloon compressing the lower segment and the catheter passing out through the cervix into the vagina. Antibiotic cover is required. The balloon can be deflated and removed after 8–12 h. The ‘uterine sandwich’ technique describes a combination of surgical modalities, where a uterine compression suture is first placed followed by insertion of a balloon tamponade sytem. This is particularly effective for placental site bleeding but could also be used for intractable cases of uterine atony.
The use of medical treatment other than uterotonics requires more research. Infiltration of the lower segment bleeding area with vasopressin has been described in individual cases, and the use of tranexamic acid, which can be given as 1 gm intravenously for this problem, is being investigated.
If placenta accrete is present, uterine curettage with the largest uterine curette can be a useful way of scraping off the adherent placenta. Placenta increta or percreta usually require direct recourse to hysterectomy. With a placenta increta that fails to separate from the uterine wall after administration of oxytocin and in the absence of any bleeding, it is best not to attempt placental removal at all, but rather to leave it in situ and await spontaneous expulsion.
Technical details of procedures such as B Lynch uterine compression suture, balloon tamponade and uterine artery ligation can be found in various texts; they should be displayed as posters in theatre and taught to all practitioners who carry out caesarean sections.
Management of ongoing bleeding from all causes after above medical and surgical conservative measures have been shown to be unsuccessful
Aortic compression
Aortic compression can be applied by an assistant as a temporising measure while help is called.
Recombinant factor V11
Recombinant factor V11 has been found to be effective in individual case reports, but is expensive and has a strong association with thrombo-embolic complications; therefore, current evidence does not strongly support its use.
Uterine tourniquet
Some practitioners have described the use of a Foley’s catheter or feeding tube tied as a tourniquet around the lower part of the uterus in a similar way to its use at myomectomy. This compresses the uterine vessels and reduces blood loss while awaiting help or during transfer of a patient to a level of care with more expertise. This technique has not been properly evaluated, but individual case reports from South Africa have shown some women transferred from a district hospital after bleeding at caesarean section with a uterine tourniquet in situ , who have had successful outcome. It is not known as for how long such a tourniquet can be placed in situ without causing irreversible ischaemic changes to the uterus.
Hysterectomy
In cases of irreparable uterine rupture or placenta increta or percreta, it is usually necessary to proceed immediately to hysterectomy without attempting conservative measures. Hysterectomy will also be necessary if all other modalities of treatment have been unsuccessful.
Several research studies have shown less blood loss and better outcomes if there is a shorter delay in carrying out the hysterectomy. This still remains a difficult area of clinical judgement, however, especially in the case of a young primipara. In many institutions, it is thought that two experienced obstetricians or doctors must make the decision, and the Head of the hospital be informed if prior consent has not been obtained. The second section of this chapter provides more detail on caesarean hysterectomy.
Internal iliac artery ligation
Internal iliac artery ligation could be considered if fertility needs to be preserved and a hysterectomy is indicated. The success rate, however, is only 50% and requires significant surgical expertise; in well-resourced countries, it is mainly carried out by gynaecological oncologists. One study showed higher success rates when this technique was used for controlling bleeding at caesarean section, rather than for PPH after vaginal delivery. In addition to being carried out as a uterine preservation procedure, it can also be carried out after hysterectomy if bleeding continues from pelvic vessels. It is probably beyond the competence of generalist doctors carrying out caesarean sections in rural hospitals in less-resourced settings where other procedures described above, intra-abdominal packing after hysterectomy, or both, may be more feasible.
Uterine artery embolisation
Some institutions may have the radiological equipment and skills to carry out uterine artery embolisation. This interventional radiological technique will be the procedure of choice if available, but requires a well-resuscitated patient. These facilities tend to be only available in tertiary settings and seem to be used more frequently in some countries (e.g. the Netherlands) compared with others. This procedure has been used with some success for bleeding after caesarean section, but perhaps has a greater role when severe haemorrhage is predicted pre-operatively, such as for placenta praevia increta or percreta where the facilities can be prepared in advance ( Figs. 1 and 2 ).
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
