A Novel Tourniquet Technique to Reduce Hemorrhage in Placenta Accreta and Allow Transportation of Patient to Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Placenta accreta is an obstetrical complication that can result in life threatening hemorrhage if not managed with adequate care and cause high maternal morbidity. Caesarean hysterectomy is an effective method to control intra-operative bleeding; however, we present a case of placenta accreta that was diagnosed intra-operatively in our secondary set-up hospital. Owing to the lack of multidisciplinary team, bleeding was temporarily controlled by tying a tourniquet using a Foley’s catheter around the lower uterine segment with the tourniquet left in-situ and patient was shifted to a tertiary care hospital. This novel tourniquet technique bought time to transport the patient, arrange for a multidisciplinary team needed for this patient’s management, and reduce hemorrhage which directly determined maternal outcome.