The place of interventional radiology in the management of post-partum hemorrhage

Embolisation of the uterine arteries is the technique of choice for the management of post-partum hemorrhage, since it is efficient and virtually non-invasive. However, initial obstetrical measures and appropriate reanimation should never be neglected. The decision for embolisation must be made by all of the competent staff (obstetrician, reanimator, interventional radiologist). The clinical state of the patient must be assessed and the biological controls analyzed and eventually the decision can be made to transfer the patient to a specialized unit equipped not only with a team of interventional radiologists but also a multi-disciplinary team, experienced in the management of this type of pathology. Practical methods An arterial inducer is placed in the femoral artery under local anesthesia. The angiographic exploration includes, when necessary; a global series showing the aorta and the pelvic vessels followed by the successive exploration of the two internal iliac arteries. Embolisation, conducted under scopic control, must be bilateral. Gelatin fragments or powder is the most appropriate embolus. Limits Very few maternal delivery structures are able to perform an arterial embolisation at any time of the day or night. This raises the problem of transporting patients with uncontrolled hemorrhages; only those who exhibit no hemorrhagic disorders can be transported fairly easily. Efficacy and complications Concerning the three principle causes at the origin of post-partum hemorrhages, efficacy is constant in the case of uterine atonia; conversely, failures have been reported in the case of cervical-vaginal tearing and abnormal placental insertion (placenta accreta). In young women with healthy arteries, the complications of uterine embolisation during postpartum hemorrhage are exceptional.