Aortic clamping for limiting blood loss at cesarean hysterectomy for placenta percreta: A case series.

Objective: In women with placenta percreta, cesarean hysterectomy is associated with massive blood loss during dissection of bladder from lower uterine segment. We studied the safety and effectiveness of temporary aortic clamping as a method of limiting blood loss at cesarean hysterectomy in women with placenta percreta.

Methods: This was a retrospective case series of 15 women with placenta percreta who underwent cesarean section with total hysterectomy at KEM Hospital, Pune, India, with a technique of temporary clamping of the infra-renal aorta for reducing blood loss during hysterectomy.

Results: Fifteen women with placenta percreta underwent classical cesarean section followed by total hysterectomy with temporary clamping of the aorta. The procedure was associated with median estimated intra-operative blood loss of 650 ml. No woman had ureteric injury or needed post-operative intensive care. Aortic clamping for 28-70 min was not associated with any intra-operative vascular complications or post-operative ischemic lesions in the lower limbs, kidneys, or bowel.

Conclusion: Aortic clamping safely and effectively limited blood loss during cesarean hysterectomy for placenta percreta and thereby reduced transfusion requirements. It compares favorably with reported outcomes of other strategies of managing placenta percreta.