The routine use of prophylactic Bakri balloon tamponade contributes to blood loss control in major placenta previa.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the blood loss control effect of routine prophylactic Bakri balloon tamponade on major and minor placenta previa (PP).

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all singleton pregnancies that involved cesarean section (CS) for PP at our hospital. All participants were divided into Bakri balloon (underwent routine prophylactic use just after placenta removal) and non-balloon groups, and into major and minor PP groups. Clinical outcomes in major and minor PP were compared between balloon and non-balloon groups.

RESULTS: The balloon and non-balloon groups contained 74 and 89 patients, respectively. There were 41 and 33 (balloon group) and 48 and 41 (non-balloon group) major and minor PP cases, respectively. Intraoperative and perioperative blood losses of major PP were significantly lower in the balloon group than the non-balloon group (1045 ml versus 1553 ml, P = 0.016; and 1189 ml versus 1810 ml, P = 0.006, respectively). The frequency of massive postpartum hemorrhage (>500 ml) with major PP was lower in the balloon group than in the non-balloon group (2.4% versus 16.7%, P = 0.027), but with no significant difference with minor PP.

CONCLUSION: Routine prophylactic use of Bakri balloon tamponade during and after CS is effective in controlling blood loss in major PP.