[Efficacy and safety of intrauterine Bakri balloon tamponade in the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage: a multicenter analysis of 109 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Bakri balloon in the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).

METHODS: A total of 109 patients with PPH who underwent Bakri balloon insertion after unsuccessful first- line medication from thirteen hospitals in Guangdong from Apr. 2013 to Oct. 2013 were recruited in this study. Bakri balloons were applied via vagina or abdomen depending on the delivery mode. The high risk factors and the causes of the PPH were analyzed. The bleeding volume of before and after placing Bakri balloon, the hemoglobin drop-out value, the interval time between the delivery and applying Bakri, the placement mode, staying time, and the complications were recorded. To stratified analyze the Bakri balloon hemostasis success rate and evaluate its safety.

RESULTS: (1) The average amount of 24 hours PPH of all 109 cases was 1 523 ml. Successful hemostasis was achieved in 102 cases after Bakri balloon placement, defined as success group. In the other 7 cases, bleeding were not controlled, defined as failure group (six patients underwent hysterectomy). The overall Bakri balloon hemostasis successful rate was 93.6% (102/109), and the failure rate was 6.4% (7/109). The successful rate in cesarean section group was 94% (93/99), and in vaginal delivery group was 9/10. In the patients with placenta previa, placenta increta or scar uterus, the successful rate of Bakri balloon hemostasis was 88% (45/51), 13/16 and 95% (19/20), respectively, and were slightly below the overall successful rate. (2) Data showed that PPH volume after Bakri balloon placement was significantly lower in the success group (364 ml) than that in the failure group (1 533 ml, P < 0.05). However, the hemoglobin drop-off value and the case number that need blood transfusion had no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). (3) The Bakri balloons were placed via vagina in 38 cases, and successful hemostasis was achieved in 36 cases, with the successful rate of 95% (36/38). The balloons were placed via cesarean section incision in 71 cases, and succeeded in 66 cases, the successful rate was 93% (66/71). There was no statistically significant difference between the two approaches. The retaining time of Bakri balloon was (22.0 ± 3.0) hours in success group and (3.0 ± 1.0) hours in failure group, with statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). (4) There was no intrauterine infection occurred. Ultrasound scan after 6 weeks postpartum found no abnormal signs in pelvis. All patients were followed up for 2-6 months postpartum, no complications were found.

CONCLUSION: Bakri balloon tamponade is an effective, safe, simple and quick approach in the treatment of PPH.