Uterine compression sutures for management of severe postpartum haemorrhage: five-year audit.

OBJECTIVES To audit the use of compression sutures for the management of massive postpartum haemorrhage and compare outcomes to those documented in the literature. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING A regional obstetric unit in Hong Kong. PATIENTS Patients with severe postpartum haemorrhage encountered over a 5-year period from January 2008 to December 2012, in which compression sutures were used for management. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Successful management with prevention of hysterectomy. RESULTS In all, 35 patients with massive postpartum haemorrhage with failed medical treatment, for whom compression sutures were used in the management, were identified. The overall success rate for the use of B-Lynch compression sutures alone to prevent hysterectomy was 23/35 (66%), and the success rate of compression sutures in conjunction with other surgical procedures was 26/35 (74%). This reported success rate appeared lower than that reported in the literature. CONCLUSION Uterine compression was an effective method for the management of massive postpartum haemorrhage in approximately 70% of cases, and could be used in conjunction with other interventions to increase its success rate in terms of avoiding hysterectomy.