Balloon Tamponade in the Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage: Three Years of Experience in a Single Center

Introduction: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the world and it is reported to occur in 5% 8% of pregnancies. Objective: This study aimed to present a single centre’s experience in treating PPH by balloon tamponade. Methods: During the time period between January 2013 and March 2016, 50 patients who had undergone balloon tamponade for postpartum hemorrhage in our clinic were evaluated retrospectively. The patients’ age, parity, type of delivery, birth weight, hemoglobin and platelet values, total blood loss from catheter, balloon’s staying time, blood and platelet transfusion status, the presence of placenta anomalies and the Bakri balloon hemostasis success rate were evaluated. Results: During the study period, there were 27,249 deliveries. The frequency of massive postpartum hemorrhage was 0.61% (n = 168). Among the 168 patients with massive postpartum hemorrhage, there were 50 patients in whom the Bakri balloon catheter was used. Bakri balloons were placed via cesarean section incision in 19 patients and via vagina in 31 patients. The mean staying time of Bakri balloon was 18 hours. In 8 patients, balloon tamponade failed. Two patients underwent hysterectomy; other two patients had surgical ligation of the hypogastric artery. Four cases were referred to a tertiary center. Placental invasion abnormalities were observed in five patients. The overall Bakri balloon hemostasis successful rate was found to be as 84% in all cases. Conclusion: Bakri balloon tamponade is an effective, safe and practical approach in the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage.