A new non-invasive procedure for refractory PPH after vaginal delivery and caesarean section

Abstract

Worldwide, the incidence of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is ∼6% and it is the leading cause of maternal mortality. The present study introduces a non-invasive procedure called bilateral cervix apex clamping (BCAC) as a new treatment for refractory PPH. A total of 13 vaginal deliveries and 5 caesarean section patients received the BCAC procedure to stop bleeding. During the procedure, the anterior and posterior walls of the cervical apex were clamped using toothless ovum forceps from the left and right side. The procedure was terminated when the bleeding had nearly stopped without clamping. The success rate of the procedure was 94.4% (17/18) overall, and 92.3% for vaginal delivery and 100% in caesarean section patients. Only one case of vaginal delivery did we resort to exploratory laparotomy and hysterectomy as amniotic fluid embolism occurred. The time spent on the procedure was 2–4 min for vaginal delivery cases and 5–7 min for caesarean section patients. The blood loss reduced significantly after the procedure, before the BCAC and after it was 875(450) ml versus 100(80)ml (p < .0001). There was a reduction in the need for UAE (uterine artery embolisation) from 13 in 22,817 deliveries (2013–2015) to 0 in 18,212 deliveries (2016–2017 (p < .001). But no change in the rate of hysterectomy (5/22817 versus 5/18212) (p = .76). BCAC is a simple, easy, safe, effective and non-invasive procedure that can decrease bleeding in patients with PPH.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? The BCAC clamping procedure was first described in Russia 80 years ago as the Genkel–Tikanadze method. But a PUBMED search did not identify and previous studies published on use of the technique.

• What do the results of this study add? The results of this study show that the BCAC clamping procedure can reduce bleeding significantly in refractory postpartum haemorrhage, when the uterine body is well contracted. The procedure can be performed after both in vaginal delivery and caesarean section. It can also reduce the necessity for UAE and balloon tamponade.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? BCAC can be used after the failure of regular first line therapy for postpartum haemorrhage.

Keywords:

• PPH
• vaginal delivery
• caesarean section
• UAE
• BCAC

Acknowledgements

Thanks Baisong WANG, PhD, Department of Biomedical Statistics. Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China, for the technical support in data analysis.

Author contributions

LJ conceived and designed the study, acquired and interpreted the data, and gave final approval of the version to be published.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they had no competing interests.