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Purpose: Postpartum hemorrhage is the major cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Retained placenta accounts for nearly 20% of severe cases. We investigated the influence of the time factor and retained placenta etiology on postpartum hemorrhage dynamics. Methods: Our retrospective study analyzed a single-center cohort of 296 women with retained placenta. Blood loss was measured using a validated and accurate technique based on calibrated blood collection bags, backed by the post- vs pre-partum decrease in hemoglobin. We evaluated the relationship between these two blood loss parameters and the duration of the third stage of labor using Spearman rank correlation, followed by subgroup analysis stratified by third stage duration and retained placenta etiology. Results: Correlation analysis revealed no association between third stage duration and measured blood loss or decrease in hemoglobin. A shorter third stage (< 60 min) was associated with significantly increased uterine atony (p = 0.001) and need for blood transfusion (p = 0.006). Uterine atony was significantly associated with greater decrease in hemoglobin (p < 0.001), higher measured blood loss (p < 0.001), postpartum hemorrhage (p = 0.048), and need for blood transfusion (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Postpartum blood loss does not correlate with third stage duration in women with retained placenta. Our results suggest that there is neither a safe time window preceding postpartum hemorrhage, nor justification for an early cut-off for manual removal of the placenta. The prompt detection of uterine atony and immediate prerequisites for manual removal of the placenta are key factors in the management of postpartum hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of a uterine folding hemostatic technique in controlling atonic postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) during cesarean delivery.Methods: Thirty-nine women with severe postpartum bleeding from uterine inertia, which did not react to conventional initial management protocols, underwent a uterine folding hemostasis. The procedure was to fold the uterine fundus onto the anterior wall of the corpus uterus using an absorbable suture that thread tautly through the inner myometrial layer of the uterus 1-3 cm below the fundus (not entered into uterine cavity) and 1-2 cm above and below the CS incision (entered into uterine cavity 2-4 cm medal to bilateral border of the uterus).Results: The technique was sufficient to stanch bleeding immediately in 32 patients (82.1 %). Seven women underwent hypogastric arteries ligation (1 case) or uterine arterial embolization (6 cases) because of continuous bleeding after the procedure. There were no morbidities or abnormalities of the uterus in these 32 patients. Eight women had pregnancies after this hemostasis and the others lacked the desire for future pregnancy.Conclusion: Uterine folding hemostasis is a simple, safe and effective technique to control the atonic PPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate various aspects of two popular uterine sparing techniques, the B-Lynch uterine compression suture and Bakri balloon tamponade, in severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).Methods: 21 women who underwent the Bakri balloon procedure and 24 women who underwent the B-Lynch suture as primary uterus-sparing methods, due to PPH not responding to medical treatment, were retrospectively evaluated.Results: The success rates of the B-Lynch procedure and the Bakri balloon were 79.1 and 80 %, respectively. The success rates of the B-Lynch + IIAL and the Bakri balloon + IIAL were 91.6 and 95 %, respectively. There was no significant difference in success rates, mean duration of time to stop bleeding, estimated blood loss, transfused packed red blood cells or mean duration of hospital stay between the B-Lynch and the Bakri balloon groups. The duration of operation was significantly longer in the Bakri balloon compared to the B-Lynch group (p = 0.01).Conclusion: In our study, the Bakri balloon and the B-Lynch suture had similar success rates in uterine atony during CS. The advantages of the B-Lynch suture include rapid application with no need for lithotomy position or extra material; whereas the Bakri balloon is less invasive and easier to learn, but more time consuming and expensive compared to the B-Lynch suture. We suggest that the B-Lynch suture may be preferred in uterine atony during CS in low resource settings; however, the less invasive Bakri balloon should be the first line in full resource settings. Further studies are needed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify risk factors and etiologies leading to severe primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in women with PPH.Methods: Women who experienced PPH within the first 24 h after delivery over a 3-year period were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of severe PPH (n = 125) or non-severe PPH (n = 411). Risk factors and etiologies for severe PPH were explored using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results: PPH and severe PPH complicated 2.1 and 0.49 % of all deliveries, respectively. Previous cesarean delivery (OR = 3.15, 95 % CI = 1.02-10.3; p = 0.001), prolonged labor (OR = 3.62, 95 % CI = 3.21-4.03; p < 0.001), oxytocin augmentation (OR = 3.32, 95 % CI 2.05-5.93; p < 0.001) and emergency cesarean delivery (OR = 4.75, 95 % CI 1.32-12.96; p < 0.001) were the factors independently associated with severe PPH. Etiologies significantly associated with severe PPH are uterine atony (OR = 2.72, 95 % CI 1.64-4.55; p < 0.001) and abnormal placentation (OR = 3.05, 95 % CI 1.56-6.27; p = 0.006).Conclusion: Previous cesarean delivery, prolonged labor, oxytocin augmentation and emergency cesarean delivery are strongest predictors of severe blood loss in women with PPH. In addition, uterine atony and abnormal placentation are the etiologies significantly associated with severe PPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors, indications and materno-fetal outcomes for emergency peripartum hysterectomy.Methods: Retrospective evaluation was made of 23 cases. Maternal and neonatal outcomes, need for referral to the tertiary center and related complications were compared to those at the initial diagnosis for surgery, location of delivery, type of surgery and the admission diagnosis. The risk factors associated with emergency peripartum hysterectomy were also investigated. Significance was evaluated at p values of <0.01 and <0.05.Results: There was a correlation between peripartum hysterectomy and uterine atony or uterine rupture (p < 0.01). The referral rates of patients with home delivery were significantly higher than those of patients who delivered in hospital (p = 0.02) but no significant difference was observed in the neonatal outcomes (p = 0.38). There was no significant difference in the rates of maternal complications between home and hospital delivery (p = 0.068). According to the indication for surgery, no significant difference was observed between the rates of referral to the tertiary center, maternal outcomes, complications, or need for maternal intensive care (p > 0.05). However, a highly significant difference was observed between the neonatal outcomes (p = 0.001).Conclusion: The results of this study showed the most important risk factors associated with peripartum hysterectomy to be uterine atony, grand multiparity, and uterine rupture. Maternal intensive care, maternal death, neonatal death, or neonatal intensive care were associated with home delivery or delayed presentation at hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the success rate and possible complications of the B-Lynch uterine compression sutures in women who suffered from postpartum uterine atony unresponsive to medical treatment. Materials and methods: A total of 36 women who were managed with the B-Lynch suture, with or without additional surgical procedures following uterine atony unresponsive to medical treatment, were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Sixteen women were primarily managed with the B-Lynch compression sutures, and 11 women had the B-Lynch compression sutures following failure of achievement of hemostasis by ligation of uterine artery alone ( n = 4), or uterine artery plus uterine branch of ovarian artery ( n = 7). Eight women had bilateral internal iliac artery ligation (BIIAL) following failure of achievement of hemostasis by the B-Lynch compression sutures. Two women (5.5 %) underwent post-cesarean hysterectomy. The overall success rate of B-Lynch was 75 % (27/36), and the overall success rate of B-Lynch plus BIIAL was 94.4 % (34/36). Three women were admitted to the intensive care unit. There was no death related to the hemorrhage in our series. No short-term complications such as uterine necrosis, hematometra, pyometra, or uterine erosion related to the uterine compression suture were observed. Conclusion: Overall success rate of the B-Lynch sutures and B-Lynch sutures plus BIIAL was 75 and 94.4 %, respectively. The B-Lynch technique does not necessarily require specific suture material. Uterine devascularization or BIIAL did not increase the risk of the possible short-term complications such as uterine necrosis. In case of failure of the B-Lynch uterine compression sutures, BIIAL may be beneficial to save the uterus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine incidence, risk factors, indications, outcomes, and complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) performed in a tertiary teaching hospital and to compare the results with literature data. Methods: Retrospective study of 51 patients who underwent EPH at the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Urology of the University of Rome Sapienza, from January 2000 to December 2013. Maternal characteristics of the index pregnancy and delivery, indications for EPH, operative and postoperative complications, maternal and neonatal outcome were acquired by the hospital records. Fisher's and Chi-square tests were performed for statistical analysis. Results: There were 51 EPH out of 23,384 deliveries, for an incidence of 2.2 per 1,000 deliveries during the study period. Forty-nine EPHs were performed after caesarean delivery (CS) and two after vaginal delivery ( p < 0.0001). The most common indications were abnormal placentation (49.0 %), followed by uterine atony (41.2 %), and uterine rupture (9.8 %). Eighty percent of patients who underwent EPH with abnormal placentation had at least one previous CS ( p < 0.01). Twenty-three patients (45.1 %) underwent total hysterectomy, the most frequent indication being abnormal placentation (76 %, p < 0.01). The remaining 28 patients underwent subtotal hysterectomy (54.9 %), the most frequent indication being uterine atony (85.7 %, p < 0.01). Maternal morbidity was 25.5 % and mortality was 5.9 %. Perinatal mortality was 3.9 %. Conclusions: Abnormal placentation was the most common indication for EPH, requiring in most of the cases a total hysterectomy. Previous CS was a risk factor for abnormal placentation and in particular for pathological adherence of the placenta. EPH remains associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To estimate the incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy over 6 years in Ain-shams University Maternity Hospital. Methods: Detailed chart review of all cases of emergency peripartum hysterectomy, 2003-2008, including previous obstetric history, details of the index pregnancy, indications for emergency peripartum hysterectomy, outcome of the hysterectomy and infant morbidity. Results: The overall rate of emergency peripartum hysterectomy was 149 of 66,306 or 2.24 per 1,000 deliveries. The primary indications for hysterectomies were placenta accreta/increta 59 (39.6 %), uterine atony 37 (24.8 %), uterine rupture 35 (23.5 %) and placenta previa without accreta 18 (12.1 %). After hysterectomy, 115 (77 %) women were admitted to the intensive care unit. Women were discharged home after a mean 11.2 day length of stay. Using multifactorial logistic regression analysis, we found that woman's age, atonic uterus, placenta accreta/increta, previous cesarian section and ruptured uterus were independent predictors for peripartum hysterectomy Conclusion: Abnormal placentation was the main indication for peripartum hysterectomy. The risk factors for peripartum hysterectomy were morbid adherence of placentae in scared uteri, uterine atony and uterine rupture. The most important step in prevention of major postpartum hemorrhage is recognizing and assessing women's risk. The risk of peripartum hysterectomy seems to be significantly decreased by limiting the number of cesarean section deliveries, thus reducing the occurrence of abnormal placentation in the form of placenta accreta, increta or percreta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, indications and the risk factors and complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH). Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 44 cases of EPH performed at tertiary obstetric center between January 2001 and April 2013. Data related to demographics, reproductive histories, indications for EPH, and postoperative follow-up were obtained by analyses of hospital records. Results: The overall incidence of EPH was 0.48 per 1,000 deliveries during the study period. The most common indications of EPH were abnormal placentation (50 %), uterine atony (36 %) and uterine rupture (9 %). All patients who underwent EPH with abnormal placentation had one or more previous cesarean sections (CS) except one. In our series, 24 cases (54 %) underwent total hysterectomy, most of which had the diagnosis of abnormal placentation (75 %), whereas subtotal hysterectomy was the choice of management of bleeding in cases with uterine atony (60 %). Maternal mortality was seen in 2 patients (4.5 %). The causes were disseminated intravascular coagulation in one and adult respiratory distress syndrome in the other patient. Perinatal mortality was observed in 7 patients (16 %). The causes for perinatal mortality were placental abruption in 4 and prematurity in 3 patients. Conclusions: In our series, abnormal placentation was the most common indication for EPH. The risk factors for EPH were previous CS for abnormal placentation and placental abruption for uterine atony and peripartum hemorrhage. Limiting the number of CS deliveries would bring a significant impact on decreasing the risk of EPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare the prophylactic effects of carbetocin with those of oxytocin for the prevention of uterine atony in patients undergoing elective caesarean section (CS) in the Netherlands. The primary endpoint was the need for additional uterotonic medication. Methods: Each of the five participating Dutch hospitals treated 50-100 term patients with 100 μg of intravenous carbetocin on prescription. Each centre retrieved charts of 250 patients treated with oxytocin according to the hospital's policy for the prevention of uterine atony (oxytocin bolus 5 IU, bolus 10 IU or bolus 5 IU followed by 10 IU in 2 h). Results: In the carbetocin group 462 subjects were included and in the oxytocin group 1,122. The proportion of subjects needing additional uterotonic treatment was 3.1 % (95 % CI 1.7-5.1 %) after carbetocin and 7.2 % (5.8-8.9 %) after oxytocin; relative risk 0.41 (0.19-0.85); p = 0.0110. Carbetocin was most effective compared with the oxytocin 5 IU bolus subgroup with less need for additional uterotonic medication (3.1 vs. 9.3 %, p = 0.0067) and blood transfusions (2.2 vs. 3.6 %, p = 0.0357). Conclusions: Compared with oxytocin, prophylaxis of uterine atony with carbetocin after an elective CS diminished the need for additional uterotonics by more than 50 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the incidence, risk factors, indications, outcomes and complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy performed after cesarean and vaginal deliveries. We analyzed retrospectively 28 cases of emergency peripartum hysterectomy operations performed between February 2001 and February 2007 at the Istanbul Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, which is a teaching hospital operating under the Turkish Ministry of Health. The indications, risk factors and the associated complications were compared with control groups. Statistical analysis was performed using the STATA version 7.0 statistical package (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX, USA). The overall incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy at our hospital is 0,37 in 1,000 deliveries. Abnormal placental adherence and uterine atony comprised 85% of the indications for peripartum hysterectomy. Postoperative maternal morbidity occurred in 15 cases (54%). Most had a febrile morbidity and depression. Seven patients underwent postpartum histerectomy due to consumptive coagulopathy. There was one maternal mortality (4%) and five perinatal mortalities (18%). The maternal death was due to consumptive coagulopathy after placental abruption. All patients had to receive blood transfusions. The median number of postoperative hospitalization days was 7. Peripartum hysterectomy is still a dramatic life-saving operation with high risks. The most common reason for abnormal placental adherence is previous uterine procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The objective was to review all emergency peripartum hysterectomies performed at a tertiary hospital in London, UK, and to identify the risk factors for emergency peripartum hysterectomy. Method A retrospective case control study. The cases consisted of all women who had emergency peripartum hysterectomy between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2003. Controls were women who delivered immediately before and after the indexed case. Demographic data, medical and surgical histories, pregnancy, intrapartum and postpartum data were collected. Differences between cases and controls were compared with χ2 Fisher exact and Student t tests. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify indepen- dent risk factors for emergency peripartum hysterec- tomy. Results There were 15 cases of emergency peripartum hysterectomy in 31,079 deliveries, giving a rate of 0.48 per 1,000. Women who had emergency peripartum hysterectomy were significantly older (mean age 37 years vs. 29 years, P < 0.00 1) and multiparous (P=0.02). More of the cases had a history of uterine surgery (67 vs. 30%, P=0.01), placenta praevia (60 vs. 3%, P <0.0001) and were delivered by caesarean sec- tion (86.7 vs. 30%, P=0.003). Eighty percent of the hysterectomies were performed in the daytime and all were done by consultants. Haemorrhage due to pla- centa praevia was the main indication for emergency peripartum hysterectomy (47%). Independent risk fac- tors for emergency peripartum hysterectomy were older age (odds ratios [OR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2-1.6), multiparity (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3- 10.2), history of previous caesarean section (OR 13.5, 95% CI 2.7-65.4), caesarean delivery in index preg- nancy (OR 11.6, 95% CI 2.1-68.6) and caesarean delivery in index pregnancy for placenta praevia (OR 18, 95% CI 3.6-69). Conclusion Caesarean deliveries, especially repeat caesareans in women with placenta praevia, significantly increase the risk of emergency peripartum hysterectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The objectives were to determine the incidence, indications, associated risk factors and complications with emergency peripartum hysterectomy at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Methods. This is a retrospective analysis of 17 cases of emergency peripartum hysterectomy done from January 1,1991 to December 31, 2002. Results. Seventeen patients of emergency peripartum hysterectomy were identified among 34,379 deliveries and the incidence rate was 0.5 per 1,000. Uterine atony 11 (64.7%, 9 without previa and 2 with previa) and followed by morbid adherent placenta with previa 6 (35.3%, 1 complete placenta accreta and 5 partial adherent placenta) was the most common indication of hysterectomy. Of the atonic group, 3 were primigravidae, 2 of 3 induced and 1 placenta previa. In morbid adherent placenta group the gravidity, previous abortions and prior cesarean deliveries were higher compared to the atonic group and were statistically significant. Conservative surgery performed in 6 (35.3%) patients before proceeding to hysterectomies, 3 (17.7%) patients had uterine artery ligation and 3 (17.7%) internal iliac ligation. Eight (47.1%) hysterectomies were subtotal. Nine (53%) patients developed disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) and one case (6%) had bilateral ureteric ligation and bladder injury. No maternal deaths occurred. Conclusion. Uterine atony still is the leading cause of primary postpartum hemorrhage and the main indications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy. The combination of high parity, cesarean section, prior cesarean delivery and current placenta previa were identified as risk factors, and should alert the obstetrician that an emergency peripartum hysterectomy may needed. Although no maternal mortality occurred morbidity remained high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]