Internal Iliac Artery Ligation- A Solution to Post-Partum Haemorrhage?

Background: Postpartum haemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal death in India. One of the methods of surgical management of PPH involves step wise devascularisation of uterus. Internal iliac artery ligation is one such procedure which involves the ligation of the anterior division of the artery and thereby reducing significant blood loss, maternal morbidity and mortality. Methodology: The study conducted over one year at Vani Vilas hospital, Bengaluru. All the women who underwent internal iliac artery ligation for postpartum haemorrhage over a period of one year were considered in the study. Result: Twenty cases of internal iliac artery were done in 1 year. 8 cases underwent subsequent peripartum hysterectomy whereas 12 didn’t need hysterectomy. There was reduction of maternal morbidity, blood loss and zero maternal morbidity when Internal Iliac Artery ligation was done for severe post-partum haemorrhage.