Novel suction tube uterine tamponade for treating intractable postpartum haemorrhage: description of technique and report of three cases.

Abstract

Uterine balloon tamponade (UBT) is widely used to treat postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Randomised trials of UBT are scarce: those of improvised condom UBT in low-resource settings found more harm than good. Uterine suction tamponade (UST) is more aligned with the physiological mechanism of uterine haemostasis (contraction), but purpose-designed devices may be unaffordable or unavailable when needed. We describe a technique of UST using an inexpensive Levin suction catheter. Use of the described technique as a last resort in three cases of life-threatening PPH resulted in prompt cessation of bleeding. We emphasise the need for randomised trials to confirm effectiveness.