A Game-Changing Solution for Bleeding After Delivery—Fast & Less Invasive!

Postpartum haemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal deaths, but a fast, less invasive solution is changing the game. This breakthrough offers new hope in preventing life-threatening complications.

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

FEATURED EXPERT PROFESSOR DR JAMIYAH HASSAN Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah (HASA) Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)

According to Professor Dr Jamiyah Hassan, PPH is still one of the major causes of maternal deaths in Malaysia.

Postpartum haemorrhage, often abbreviated as PPH, describes excessive bleeding experienced by the mother following childbirth. It can happen with 24 hours after delivery (primary PPH) or within 24 hours to 12 weeks after delivery (secondary PPH).

• Blood loss of 500ml or more within 24 hours after vaginal delivery, or
• Blood loss of 1,000ml or more after caesarean section

Hence, the healthcare team is always vigilant and actively taking steps to prevent PPH as the mother enters the third stage of labour in the delivery room.

HOW PPH IS MANAGED IN THE DELIVERY ROOM

Common current methods to prevent or manage postpartum haemorrhage during the third stage of labour are:

• Use of uterotonic agents, which increase the uterine tone and contractions as well as reduce PPH.
• Controlled cord traction (CCT), a procedure to pull the umbilical cord in order to encourage the placenta to separate from the inside of the uterus and the baby to be delivered sooner.
• Uterine massage to promote contraction of the uterus.

A RECENT SOLUTION FOR POSTPARTUM HAEMORRHAGE

Professor Jamiyah reveals that there is a device called the intrauterine vacuum-induced hemorrhage-control device that can be used to control the bleeding in PPH.

Used When There Is Excessive Bleeding after Delivery

• When signs of excessive bleeding are detected during the mother’s third stage of labour, the obstetrician can prepare the device for use.
• It is typically used after the measures mentioned earlier are not sufficient to control the mother’s bleeding.
• The obstetrician will determine whether the device needs to be used based on the mother’s specific clinical situation, the severity of bleeding, and other factors unique to each case.

How Does It Work?

1. The device typically consists of a soft silicone tube that can be inserted into the uterus.
2. The device then applies a low-level vacuum to the uterine walls.
3. The uterus contracts, thus constricting blood vessels and controlling the mother’s bleeding.

Advantages of This Device

• The device works fast to control bleeding. Professor Jamiyah shares that controlled bleeding can be observed in about 3 minutes after the device is used. The procedure can be completed within 3.2 hours.
• Compared to other methods, the use of this device is less invasive and can reduce the need for blood transfusions.
• It can also potentially prevent the need for a hysterectomy—a surgery to remove the uterus—thus allowing the mother to still have children in the future.

Is It Safe?

• The intrauterine vacuum-induced hemorrhage-control device is still relatively new.
• Thus, it is still being evaluated in clinical trials. Nonetheless, there have been some promising results in recent years.

If you are concerned about postpartum haemorrhage and the options available to treat it should it occur after delivery, you should discuss the matter further with your gynaecologist and obstetrician.