title: Bilateral hypogastric artery ligation in emergency setting for intractable postpartum hemorrhage: a secondary care center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the authors' experience in bilateral hypogastric (internal iliac) artery ligation which was performed for controlling intractable postpartum hemorrhage in a secondary care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients that required bilateral hypogastric artery ligation for severe intractable postpartum hemorrhage from November 2007 to August 2009 were included in this retrospective study. Data were retrieved from patients' hospital records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 26 cases required hypogastric artery ligation during the study period. Causes of postpartum hemorrhage included uterine atony, placental abruption, uterine rupture, and placenta accreta. Hemorrhage was effectively controlled in 20 of 26 cases (76.9%) and hysterectomy was avoided. Iliac vein injury occurred in one patient (3.8%) as an operative complication. There was one maternal death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypogastric artery ligation is an effective therapeutic option for severe postpartum hemorrhage and should be kept in mind during obstetric emergency conditions.
authors.affiliation: Anatolia IVF Center, Ankara, Turkey. drkubraboynukalin@yahoo.com.tr
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Boynukalin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boyar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gormus
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Aral
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boyar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D063127:Secondary Health Care; D055815:Young Adult