The effectiveness of the double B-lynch suture as a modification in the treatment of intractable postpartum haemorrhage

Abstract

A broader range of more effective compression techniques are needed in the patients who have an intractable postpartum haemorrhage due to uterine atony despite medical treatment and B-Lynch sutures. The aim of this study was to report the outcome of a series of patients with haemorrhage who were managed by double B-Lynch suture. Fourteen patients who were treated in a tertiary hospital between July 2010 and February 2015 were included in the study. The intractable haemorrhage rate was 0.35% over 5 years (14/4000 births). Bleeding was controlled in all the patients with a double B-Lynch suture. The mean age of the patients was 24 ± 3.4 years. The mean estimated blood loss was 1696 ± 272.075 mL, and the mean transfusion rate was 4.2 ± 2.5 units. Pregnancy was observed in five patients at follow up. The double B-Lynch suture seems to be an effective and reliable solution to an intractable postpartum haemorrhage resulting from uterine atony and has no unfavourable impacts on fertility. It should be considered before the use of any aggressive surgical techniques such as a hypogastric artery ligation or a hysterectomy. This the first study to investigate the effectiveness of the double B-Lynch suture, and we showed that the hysterectomy and/or hypogastric artery ligation rate can be decreased by adding a second B-Lynch suture in cases where the medical treatment or a single B-Lynch has failed.Impact statementWhat is already known on the subject? Uterine atony is the most common cause of a primary postpartum haemorrhage. When a simple massage of the uterus and medication failed to manage this condition, various surgical solutions have been sought, including uterine compression sutures, uterine artery ligation, devascularisation of the uterus, internal iliac artery ligation and, ultimately, a hysterectomy. The B-Lynch suturing technique is particularly useful because of its simplicity of application, life-saving potential, relative safety and capacity for preserving the uterus and subsequent fertility. To-date, this suturing technique, when applied correctly, has been successful with no problems and no apparent complications. However in the cases of when it falls, usually a hysterectomy or a hipogastric artery ligation is preferred.What does this study add? A ‘double B-Lynch suture seems to be an effective and reliable method in an intractable postpartum haemorrhage due to a uterine atony and has no unfavourable impact on fertility’.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice? The double B-Lynch suture seems to be an effective, reliable and technically easy method. With this aspect, it might be considered before any aggressive surgical techniques, such as a hypogastric artery ligation and hysterectomy in selected cases.