Using Interventional Radiology to Treat Postpartum Hemorrhage

ABSTRACT
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a serious complication of giving birth that can result in death. Interventional radiology allows for the use of uterine artery embolization and transcatheter arterial embolization to prevent and treat PPH. These procedures are minimally invasive options that use the uterine or internal iliac arteries to place either a balloon or embolic material to stop the bleeding. These techniques also can be used as a preventive treatment for women with known placental abnormalities who are at an increased risk of hemorrhaging. This article discusses causes, early recognition, and treatment of PPH. It also discusses nursing care for patients with PPH and presents a case report describing the use of interventional radiology before cesarean delivery for a patient with placenta accreta.

Key words: postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), transcatheter arterial embolism (TAE), uterine artery embolization (UAE), interventional radiology (IR).