Damage-Control Surgery for Obstetric Hemorrhage

Review of Current Insights and Therapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Refractory Postpartum Hemorrhage

Refractory postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) affects 10-20% of patients with PPH when they do not respond adequately to first-line treatments. These patients require second-line interventions, including three or more uterotonics, additional medications, transfusions, non-surgical treatments, and/or surgical intervention. Multiple studies have suggested that patients with refractory PPH have different clinical characteristics and causes of PPH when compared to patients who respond to first-line agents. This review highlights current insights into therapeutic approaches for the management of refractory PPH. Early management of refractory PPH relies on both hypovolemic resuscitation and achievement of hemostasis, with an emphasis on early blood product replacement and massive transfusion protocols. Transfusion needs can be more rapidly and accurately identified through point-of-care tests such as thromboelastography. Medical therapies for the treatment of refractory PPH involve treatment of both uterine atony as well as the underlying coagulopathy, with the use of tranexamic acid and adjunct therapies such as factor replacement. The principles guiding the management of refractory PPH include restoring normal uterine and pelvic anatomy, through the evaluation and management of retained products of conception, uterine inversion, and obstetric lacerations. Intrauterine vacuum-induced hemorrhage control devices are novel methods for the treatment of refractory PPH secondary to uterine atony, in addition to other uterine-sparing surgical procedures that are under investigation. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta can be considered for cases of critical refractory PPH, to prevent or decrease ongoing blood loss while definitive surgical interventions are performed. Finally, for patients with critical hemorrhage resulting in hemorrhagic shock, damage control resuscitation (a staged surgical approach focused on restoring normal physiologic recovery and maximizing tissue oxygenation prior to proceeding with definitive surgical management) has been shown to successfully control refractory PPH, with an overall mortality decrease for obstetric patients.

Damage-Control Surgery for Maternal Near-Miss Cases of Placenta Previa and Placenta Accreta Spectrum

Purpose

There is paucity of reports on damage control surgery use in near-miss cases associated with placenta previa, and placenta accreta spectrum. The objective is to report the outcome of damage control surgery for the obstetrical hemorrhage in near-miss cases of placenta previa and placenta accreta spectrum.

Materials and Methods

The records of all women who had damage control surgery defined as abdominopelvic packing, followed by a period of medical stabilization in the intensive care unit for near-miss placenta previa and placenta accreta spectrum at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between November 1, 2007, and March 1, 2020, were identified and reviewed.

Results

During the study period, seven women met the inclusion criteria. There were three women with placenta previa, three women with placenta previa accreta, and one woman with placenta accreta. Five women had cesarean section followed by laparotomy, hysterectomy, and damage control surgery, one woman had a cesarean hysterectomy and damage control surgery, and one woman had hysterectomy and damage control surgery. Estimated “near-miss” intraoperative bleeding ranged from 2 to 7 liters for the seven women (median 5 L; IQR 3.5, 6), which was managed by massive blood transfusion. Complications included disseminated intravascular coagulation (3 women), intestinal obstruction (1 woman), acute renal failure (1 woman), and vesicovaginal fistula (1 woman). Hospital stay ranged from 8 to 44 days (median 37; IQR 21, 39).

Conclusion

Damage control surgery can be life-saving. It should be in the armamentarium of the health care providers managing women with placenta previa, and placenta accreta spectrum.

Obstetric Hemorrhage

Peripartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Anesthesiologists must be familiar with conditions associated with hemorrhage that are unique to labor and delivery and not seen elsewhere in their practice. Regardless of etiology, early recognition and timely treatment of obstetric hemorrhage is necessary to prevent significant blood loss. Massive transfusion protocols are crucial to successful resuscitation, and providers should also consider use of cell salvage, uterine artery embolization, and anti-fibrinolytics. Because more than half the deaths due to hemorrhage are preventable, multidisciplinary care bundles should be used on every labor and delivery unit.

Successful Perioperative Management with Damage Control Surgery in a Patient with Massive Postpartum Hemorrhage of More Than 20,000 mL

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in obstetrics is related to postpartum hemorrhage and has been a leading cause of maternal death. We here report a successful treatment, via damage control surgery (DCS), of a life-threatening massive hemorrhage of more than 20,000 mL due to DIC. A 30-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of atonic bleeding. Since she was having a uterine rupture, an emergency hysterectomy was performed. Because of the severe DIC (fibrinogen, 65 mg/dL; platelet count, 6.0 × 10⁹/L), oozing persisted after the hysterectomy; thus, intraperitoneal gauze packing was performed as DCS. Afterwards, the coagulopathy was corrected, and the gauze was removed on the second postoperative day (POD 2). The patient was discharged without complications on POD 16. The present case demonstrated that performing DCS and waiting for improvement of the coagulation system can be one of the treatment options for management of patients with severe DIC.

Damage-control resuscitation in obstetrics

Severe obstetric hemorrhage is a catastrophic event and represents the main cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The elevated mortality rate due to hemorrhage is associated with metabolic complications and organ hypoperfusion that may trigger a state of irreversible coagulopathy. Thus, the use of conventional measures to control bleeding frequently generates a vicious cycle in which the patient continues bleeding (prolonging surgical times). Damage-control surgery has proven to be feasible and effective in the context of obstetric hemorrhage. It combines surgical and resuscitative measures that generate successful results in the control of refractory bleeding, ultimately decreasing mortality in patients being in critical condition.

Management of peripartum intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome

Normal pregnancy leads to a state of chronically increased intra-abdominal pressure. Obstetric and non-obstetric conditions may increase intra-abdominal pressure further, causing intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome, which leads to maternal organ dysfunction and a compromised fetal state. Limited medical literature exists to guide treatment of pregnant women with these conditions. In this state-of-the-art review, we propose a diagnostic and treatment algorithm for the management of peripartum intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome, informed by newly available studies.