Uncontrollable postpartum bleeding: a new approach to hemostasis through angiographic arterial embolization.

A case of severe postpartum hemorrhage is reported. Three separate surgical procedures failed to reveal the source of bleeding, and standard surgical techniques, including bilateral ligation of the hypogastric arteries, were unsuccessful in producing hemostasis. However, angiography successfully identified the specific bleeding vessel, and transcatheter embolization with Gelfoam fragments quickly and effectively stopped the hemorrhage. The authors consider angiographic embolization to be an effective alternative approach to the control of pelvic hemorrhage and recommend that the technique be considered prior to surgical intervention.