Is there a role of prophylactic bilateral internal iliac artery ligation on reducing the bleeding during cesarean hysterectomy in patients with placenta percreta? A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

Our study aims to evaluate the effect of bilateral prophylactic internal iliac artery ligation (IIAL) on bleeding in patients with placenta percreta who undergo cesarean hysterectomy (CH) with the use of blunt dissection technique.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 96 patients with placenta percreta who underwent planned CH with using the blunt dissection technique to allow better vesico-uterine dissection at the gynecology and obstetrics unit of a university hospital between the years 2017-2019. We carried out bilateral IIAL before CH in the study group (group 1) while we performed only CH in the control group (group 2).

RESULTS

Group 1 and Group 2 consisted of 50 and 46 patients; respectively. There was no statistical difference between the two groups as regards to the mean estimated blood loss, the mean transfused blood products, the mean operation time, and the number of complications. In total, 24 patients (25%) had complications with the finding that the most common one was bladder injury (16/96, 16,66%).

CONCLUSIONS

Routine bilateral prophylactic IIAL before CH in placenta percreta cases does not have a beneficial effect on decreasing the amount of bleeding and the amount blood transfusion.