title: Failure of uterine artery embolization for controlling postpartum hemorrhage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) for controlling postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2008 and December 2009, 23 women with intractable PPH underwent UAE. Specific diagnoses included uterine atony (n = 10), placenta accreta (n = 8), puerperal hematoma (n = 2) and placental polyp (n = 3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 10 patients with uterine atony, treatment with UAE failed in two women with severe vasoconstriction. One patient developed lumbosacral plexopathy. All eight patients with placenta accreta were treated successfully with the placement of multiple sutures in the placental bed and UAE. Two of the three women with placental polyps were treated successfully with UAE and packing of the uterus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Embolization should follow resuscitation for vascular collapse. In the case of an adherent placenta, embolization is more effective with the placement of multiple sutures in the placental bed or compression of the placental bed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, JinJu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Kwon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tae Bum
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jong Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Jeong Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Won Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Soon Ae
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Hak
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Paik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010921:Placenta Accreta / Q000503:physiopathology; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D011127:Polyps / Q000503:physiopathology; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017211:Treatment Failure; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization