Efficacy of OB balloon tamponade in cesarean delivery for placenta previa and low-lying placenta: a retrospective comparative study

Placenta previa and low-lying placenta are associated with substantial peripartum hemorrhagic complications, particularly during cesarean delivery. This retrospective study compared the efficacy and safety of a newly developed OB balloon—featuring a double-balloon structure designed to simultaneously compress the uterine and vaginal sides—with the conventional Bakri balloon for intrauterine tamponade. We retrospectively analyzed cases of placenta previa or low-lying placenta managed with either the OB or Bakri balloon during cesarean delivery. The primary outcome was balloon failure, defined as inadequate postoperative bleeding control requiring additional interventions despite balloon tamponade. Secondary outcomes included insertion time, inflation volume, postoperative blood loss, and balloon prolapse. A total of 47 cases were analyzed: 20 in the OB group and 27 in the Bakri group. Balloon failure occurred in 5 cases (18.5%) in the Bakri group—all associated with balloon prolapse—whereas no failures occurred in the OB group. Balloon prolapse was observed in 6 cases (22.2%) in the Bakri group and none in the OB group. No significant differences were found in insertion time or postoperative blood loss between the groups. The OB balloon reduced the incidence of balloon prolapse while maintaining comparable hemostatic efficacy. These findings suggest that the OB balloon offers a more stable hemostatic option for cesarean deliveries complicated by abnormal placentation.