VAGINAL LIGATURE OF UTERINE ARTERIES DURING POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE

Immediate postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine inertia is usually trea ted by injection of oxytocics. In some situations, bleeding continues and distends the uterine cavity, in turn disturbing the hemostasis tha t accompanies uterine retraction. Uterine bleeding must be rapidly red uced while the coagulation defect is corrected. The authors propose th e vaginal ligature of uterine arteries, which can be performed in the delivery room, as an alternative to hysterectomy. (C) 1997 Internation al Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.