Characteristics and outcomes of patients with postpartum hemorrhage undergoing transcatheter arterial embolization: A nationwide observational study.

Objective: To elucidate the demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) who underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database, which covers roughly 90% of all tertiary emergency hospitals in Japan, between April 2012 to March 2020. We identified patients with PPH who underwent TAE using the Japanese medical procedure status and code, and the device or drug code. We examined the patient characteristics, interventions administered, and clinical outcomes.

Results: Among 64 893 patients diagnosed with PPH, we identified 2705 (4.2%) patients with PPH who underwent TAE. The most common cause of PPH was uterine atony (68.7%), followed by disseminated intravascular coagulation after labor (30.0%) and placenta accreta spectrum disorders (23.4%). The proportion of patients who underwent repeat TAE and a hysterectomy was 64 (2.4%) and 188 (7.0%), respectively. Among hysterectomies (n = 188), 26 (13.8%) had the procedure performed before TAE, 73 (38.8%) underwent hysterectomy on the same day as TAE, and 89 (47.4%) had the procedure conducted after TAE. Of those who underwent a hysterectomy after TAE (n = 89), 33 (37%) were performed more than 1-week after initial TAE. Overall in-hospital mortality was 14/2705 (0.5%).

Conclusion: Even if hemostasis is achieved through TAE, one must be mindful that a hysterectomy may become necessary more than 1 week after the procedure. These results could be helpful in clinical decision making and providing patients with additional treatment options for PPH that preserve patient fertility.