title: Role of interventional radiology in treating obstetric haemorrhages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of selective uterine artery embolisation in patients with a high risk of haemorrhage due to obstetric issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the angiographic examinations of 63 patients (average age ± SD, 32.6 years ± 4.8), affected by an obstetric disease with a high risk of haemorrhage (22 cases of ectopic pregnancy, 41 of postpartum haemorrhage) and treated with an interventional approach. In particular, we considered the rate of second treatment with interventional technique or conservative or radical surgery, the incidence of postprocedural complications, and the absorbed radiation dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immediate technical success, defined as the cessation of active bleeding, was achieved in all cases. Uterine artery embolisation was able alone to control the haemorrhage in 95.24 % of cases. Three patients required a second treatment to achieve haemostasis. No peri- or postprocedural complications were observed. At the 12-month follow-up after embolisation, 22/49 conservatively treated patients were found to be pregnant and successfully completed their pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selective uterine artery embolisation allows for safe and complete control of haemorrhage in patients with obstetric disease, with a very low incidence of complications and preservation of fertility.
authors.affiliation: UOSC di Radiologia Vascolare ed Interventistica AORN Cardarelli Napoli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Niola
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marcello
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maglione
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Ritis
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Pietto
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nazzaro
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sirimarco
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mocerino
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.forename: Maria Antonella
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Di Pasquale
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nasti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult