Prophylactic occlusion balloon placement in internal iliac arteries for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage due to morbidly adherent placenta: short term outcomes

To evaluate outcomes of uterine conserving surgery with occlusion balloon technique. A critical review of the complications was performed.

Between 2010 and 2016, pregnant women, with a prenatal diagnosis of morbidly adherent placenta (MAP), were treated with occlusion balloon catheters in both internal iliac arteries. Parameters such as need for hysterectomy, incidence of PPH, grade of MAP, estimated blood loss during delivery (EBL) and transfusion requirements, mean recovery time and duration of the balloon inflation, were collected and reviewed. Complications requiring further management were analysed.

Thirty-seven women with MAP underwent prophylactic occlusion balloon placement (POBC). Mean recovery was 4.48 days (range 2–10). Catheters were successfully positioned and balloons inflated in obstetric theatre following caesarean delivery in 100% of the cases. The uterus was conserved in every case. The MAP grades were 20 percreta, 3 increta and 14 accreta. The EBL was not statistically different between the different grades of placentation. There was a statistically significant association in the number of patients requiring blood transfusions and the degree of placental invasion (p = 0. 0119). PPH occurred in 5 patients (13.5%) and arterial thrombosis in 4 patients (11%). The EBL during delivery was significantly higher (2811 mL) in patients with complications (p = 0.0102). Furthermore, the group of patients that had complications required statistically significant more blood transfusions compared to those without complications (p = 0.0001). No maternal mortality or foetal morbidity occurred.

The utilisation of Prophylactic occlusion balloon catheters allows uterine conserving surgery to be performed safely with few maternal complications.