Objective: To study the value of bilateral ligation of internal iliac arteries in the management of intractable postpartum haemorrhage and to curtail blood transfusion during operations for gynaecological cancers.
Methods: Internal iliac arteries were ligated in 15 cases of PPH, 4 cases of secondary haemorrhage after hysterectomy and in 27 cases of gynaecological cancers during surgery, over a period of 5 years in a general hospital at Calcutta.
Results: The method controlled PPH in all cases except one who required hysterectomy. Secondary haemorrhage was arrested in all. No blood transfusion was necessary during operations for gynaecological cancers except one.
Conclusion: The method was effective in 75% of atonic PPH and in majority of PPH due to other causes including caesarean section. It almost entirely avoid blood transfusion during operation for gynaecological cancers. The procedure was simple and did not involve any hazard.