The Treatment of Post-Partum Bleeding With Embolization

Aim: To assess safety and efficacy of transcatheter embolization in the treatment of post-partum bleedings. Materials and Methods: In a single institution, the outcome of 15 patients who underwent trans arterial embolization (TAE) for post-partum hemorrhages (PPH) were retrospectively reviewed. Eleven patients presented with hemodynamic instability requiring blood transfusion (73 %), four patients were hemodynamically stable (27 %). Arterial embolization was performed with gelatin sponge, particles and coils. Results: Mean follow-up time was 21.2 months (range 12-48 months). Technical success rate was 100%. The overall clinical success rate was 100%. No major complications that required intensive care treatment were registered during or after the procedures. No patient required emergency surgery and subsequent hysterectomy. During follow-up, four patients become pregnant after transcatheter arterial embolization, and delivered full-term and healthy infants. Conclusions: TAE is a safe method that allows to avoid surgery and hysterectomy for uncontrollable post-partum hemorrhage; a future normal pregnancy after embolization may be hypothesized.