Postpartum hemorrhage and intrauterine balloon tamponade. A report of three cases

Postpartum hemorrhage can become rapidly catastrophic. If medical management fails, then, according to recent reports, the use of an intrauterine inflated Foley catheter balloon for tamponade gives excellent results and can help avoid invasive procedures.

We present one case of profuse hemorrhage following evacuation of the fetus after intrauterine fetal death at 17 weeks' gestation controlled with intrauterine balloon tamponade and two cases of severe postpartum hemorrhage (one immediate and one late) following normal vaginal deliveries, both controlled with Foley catheters. In either case the patient required no blood transfusions, and major surgery was avoided.

Intrauterine balloon tamponade is highly effective. The catheter is readily available, is not expensive, does not require special training for insertion and, extremely important, can avoid major surgery.