title: [Selective embolization to treat obstetric hemorrhage].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe cases of obstetric hemorrhage that have called for selective intra-arterial embolization and the different embolization techniques used. To assess the clinical outcomes and postprocedural fertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 27 women with obstetric hemorrhage. In 24 patients, embolization was performed by catheterizing both uterine arteries and in 2 patients only one uterine artery was catheterized (pseudoaneurysm). The materials used for embolization consisted of Spongostan in 17/27, particles in 9/27, and coils in 1/27. Clinical follow-up included an analysis of early and late complications and of postprocedural fertility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemorrhage was classified as primary (25/27) or secondary (2/27). The cause of bleeding was vaginal delivery (20), cesarean sections (5), abortion (1), and cervical ectopic pregnancy (1). The initial technical success rate was 100% and the clinical success rate was 92.6% (25 of the 27 patients). Bleeding ceased and the outcome was satisfactory in 25 patients. During clinical follow-up ranging from one to seven years, 23 patients had normal menstruation and 6 patients completed 7 full-term pregnancies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-arterial embolization for obstetric hemorrhage leads to good outcomes and few complications and it preserves fertility.
authors: Servicio de Radiología, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España. Electronic address: mferrer@hospital-ribera.com.
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Ferrer Puchol
authors: Servicio de Radiología Intervencionista, Complejo hospitalario de Toledo, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, España.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Lanciego
authors: Servicio de Radiología, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Esteban
authors: Servicio de Radiología Intervencionista, Complejo hospitalario de Toledo, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, España.
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Ciampi
authors: Servicio de Radiología, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Edo
authors: Servicio de Radiología, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, España.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ferragud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult