Publication:

Sooner than later: a little effort may avert postpartum haemorrhage in patients with acute hepatitis E

Background The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in pregnancies with hepatitis E varies from 14-42%. Management of labor and PPH in these women with acute liver injury makes it a real obstetric challenge due to associated coagulopathies and contraindication for many drugs. Prophylactic insertion of condom balloon tamponade along with active management of the third stage of labour (AMTSL) prevent primary PPH in these women. Simultaneous use of injection tranexemic acid further gives reliable results. The present study was conducted to study the effectiveness of condom balloon tamponade in preventing PPH in pregnant women with acute hepatitis E in labor.

Methods The present study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical (JNM) College and associated Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial (BRAM) Hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh over period of two year from September 2018 to September 2020.

Results During the study period 32 women presented with hepatitis E in labor. Condom balloon tamponade was inserted prophylactically in all hepatitis E virus (HEV) positive cases immediately after delivery of placenta along with vaginal packing, irrespective of amount of bleeding. Inspite of so many odds in the form of unscanned pregnancies, multiparity, multifetal gestation, abruption, intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), prolonged labor, deranged liver and coagulation profiles, anemia and thrombocytopenia, our study showed high effectiveness of prophylactic condom balloon tamponade by encountering only one case of PPH.

Conclusions Prophylactic condom balloon tamponade insertion just after the removal of placenta is promising in averting PPH.