A Novel Treatment for Massive Hemorrhage after Maternal Trauma in Pregnancy

Abstract

Background Trauma in pregnancy can lead to life-threatening hemorrhage. Conventional treatments of hemorrhage include medical and surgical management. However, if these measures fail uterine compression is an option to control bleeding. We present a case where this management was employed.

Case A patient presented at 36 weeks of gestation with multiple injuries after a motor vehicle collision and experienced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The use of a Bakri balloon in combination with external compression with Coban, a sterile self-adherent bandage, after delivery temporized her bleeding and allowed her to become stable for further management.

Conclusion When other measures fail and a hysterectomy is considered unsafe, the combination of internal and external uterine compression is an option.

Keywords

trauma - pregnancy - uterine compression - disseminated intravascular coagulation

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