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Novel suction tube uterine tamponade for treating intractable postpartum haemorrhage: description of technique and report of three cases
Author(s) -
Hofmeyr GJ,
SingataMadliki M
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/1471-0528.16169
Subject(s) - medicine , tamponade , suction , postpartum haemorrhage , tube (container) , surgery , pregnancy , gynecology , engineering , biology , mechanical engineering , genetics
Uterine balloon tamponade (UBT) is widely used to treat postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Randomised trials of UBT are scarce: those of improvised condom UBT in low‐resource settings found more harm than good. Uterine suction tamponade (UST) is more aligned with the physiological mechanism of uterine haemostasis (contraction), but purpose‐designed devices may be unaffordable or unavailable when needed. We describe a technique of UST using an inexpensive Levin suction catheter. Use of the described technique as a last resort in three cases of life‐threatening PPH resulted in prompt cessation of bleeding. We emphasise the need for randomised trials to confirm effectiveness.