Experience with internal iliac artery ligation in obstetrics and gynaecological practice

Internal iliac artery ligation was performed in 6 patients (bilateral in 5), as a prophylactic procedure in 4 and as a life saving measure in 2 patients through transperitoneal approach. No morbidity or mortality resulted from this procedure. All the 6 patients in whom internal iliac artery ligation was done to control an otherwise uncontrollable bleeding from their pelvic tissues had ultimately an uneventful recovery. It is advisable to adopt this procedure as a routine in all difficult pelvic operations particularly radical operations for gynaecological malignancy.