Therapy and prevention of obstetric hemorrhage by tamponade using a balloon catheter

The aim of this study was to verify the possibility to use a balloon catheter as hemostatic method in pregnancies at high risk for hemorrhage as an alternative to less conservative surgical procedures. In 4 pregnancies at risk for hemorrhage, a compressive endouterine or endocervical method, consisting of a balloon catheter filled of warm saline solution, was used in order to stop or to prevent otherwise uncontrollable bleeding. In the cases treated the use of the balloon catheter was safe and effective both in the treatment of hemorrhage due to abnormal placentation and in the prevention of hemorrhagic complications due to abnormal implantation of pregnancy. Among novel medical and surgical approaches developed to control obstetric hemorrhage, tamponade using a balloon catheter could be considered a valid option. Moreover, this procedure, by avoiding radical surgical treatments, such as hysterectomy, which are frequently performed in unstable patients, could offer the advantage of preserving fertility.