Arterial embolisation in intractable primary post-partum haemorrhage: case series.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of arterial embolisation in the management of intractable primary post-partum haemorrhage. DESIGN. Retrospective case series.


METHODS
Regional hospital, Hong Kong.


METHODS
Nine patients aged 28 to 39 years who were treated for severe primary post-partum haemorrhage between October 2000 and January 2003.


METHODS
Emergency transcatheter arterial embolisation.


METHODS
Clinical outcome and complications.


RESULTS
All nine arterial embolisations successfully arrested the haemorrhage. The main cause of primary post-partum haemorrhage was uterine atony. No serious complication arose, although one patient experienced slight numbness of the right leg. Normal menstruation resumed in all patients, except for the one who had had a hysterectomy as initial treatment. One patient became pregnant 1 year after embolisation. Patients were followed up for 10 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience, arterial embolisation is safe and efficacious, and is the treatment of choice for patients with intractable primary post-partum haemorrhage.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong. manleetsang@yahoo.com.hk
M L
ML
Tsang
W C
WC
Wong
K Y
KY
Kun
C M
CM
Tai
T K
TK
Ng
K Y
KY
Lau
T P
TP
Wong
D000328:Adult; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies