Uterine arterial embolization to assist induction of labor among patients with complete placenta previa
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1Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China.
Objective:
To investigate labor induction after uterine arterial embolization (UAE) among patients with complete placenta previa (CPP).
Methods:
A prospective study was conducted of women with a singleton pregnancy (16-35 weeks) and CPP admitted to a center in Changsha, China, for induction of labor because of a fetal anomaly between March 2009 and December 2013. Patients underwent intervention-assisted labor induction (IALI) with UAE, or cesarean delivery. A control group of 30 women without CPP but undergoing labor induction was also enrolled. Hemoglobin levels, postpartum blood loss, and length of labor were assessed.
Results:
Mean postpartum blood loss was lower in the IALI group (n=32; 301.25±128.07 mL) than in the cesarean group (n=15; 693.33±244.85 mL; P=0.049), but was not different from that in the control group (143.50±16.06 mL; P=0.325). The reduction in mean hemoglobin level was significantly lower in the IALI group (-6.53±2.20 g/L) than in the cesarean group (-8.40±2.17g/L; P=0.005), but higher than in the control group (-0.20±0.35 g/L; P=0.007). Duration of labor did not differ between the IALI and control groups (8.70±2.32 vs 4.76±0.47 hours; P=0.108).
Conclusion:
UAE to assist induction of labor could be considered a feasible option for patients with CPP.
