Analysis of the Clinical Efficacy of Prophylactic Iliac Artery Balloon Occlusion for Early Postpartum Hemorrhage Following Cesarean Delivery

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of prophylactic iliac artery balloon occlusion in the management of early postpartum hemorrhage during cesarean delivery. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 140 patients who developed postpartum hemorrhage following cesarean section and were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine between January 2020 and December 2023. Among them, 35 patients who underwent preoperative placement of bilateral iliac artery balloons were designated as the observation group, while 105 patients without balloon placement served as the control group. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the differences in biochemical indicators and clinical outcomes between the two groups. Results No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of biochemical indicators (serum creatinine, total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) or clinical outcome measures (mean arterial pressure, acute kidney injury, total/subtotal hysterectomy, thrombotic events, and length of ICU stay) ( P  > 0.05). However, significant differences were identified in platelet count, volume of postpartum hemorrhage, albumin usage, SOFA score, APACHE II score, and total medical costs ( P  < 0.05). Conclusion Preoperative placement of iliac artery balloons before cesarean delivery can reduce postpartum blood loss and lower the risk of maternal organ dysfunction and mortality. However, it is also associated with increased medical costs and a higher rate of central venous catheterization.