Intrauterine Tamponade Balloon for Management of Severe Postpartum Haemorrhage: Does Early Insertion Change the Outcome? A Retrospective Study on Blood Loss

The French College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF) recommends the use of intrauterine tamponade balloon (IUTB) in postpartum haemorrhage for bleeding that is refractory after sulprostone before either surgery or interventional radiology. However, the elapsed time between uterotonic drug injection and the insertion of intrauterine tamponade balloon was not reliably assessed. Objective: To evaluate the role of the timing of IUTB insertion and to assess the correlation between the time of insertion and outcome. Methods: A retrospective study in two tertiary care centres, including patients transferred for severe PPH management. Results: A total of 81 patients were included: 52 patients with IUTB inserted before 15 min (group 1) and 29 patients with IUTB inserted after 15 min (group 2). The mean volume of blood loss in the group of patients with IUTB inserted before 15 min was significantly lower than in group of patients with IUTB set after 15 min. Conclusion: An IUTB could be inserted simultaneously with a uterotonic agent, within 15 min and not after 15 min as suggested by local guidelines, but further prospective studies are required to confirm this.