Krupa Patalay A1, Vijaya Reddy Kalattoor2, Vivekanand Namala3
INTRODUCTION
Secondary postpartum haemorrhage [PPH] or puerperal haemorrhage, though rare can sometimes cause severe morbidity needing prolonged hospitalisation. Majority of the cases can be managed medically, a few of them requiring surgical interventions. With retained placental tissue being a common cause, emptying the uterus in the puerperium can be difficult and dangerous too as the wall is soft and perforation chances are high. Hysteroscopic evaluation of the puerperal uterus gives us a better picture of the retained bits of placental tissue, and helps in complete evacuation of the tissue without causing much trauma to the fragile uterine wall. It is also more specific than ultrasonogram [USG] to rule out the presence of retained tissue.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
17 patients who had secondary PPH and did not respond to the initial medical management were included in the study. Hysteroscopy was done in these cases. Definitive pathology was found in 12 cases; 7 cases had polypoidal tissue [retained bits of placenta], 3 cases had placental tissue adherent to the caesarean scar [placenta accreta] and 2 cases had submucous fibroids.
RESULTS
In cases which had retained placental bits, the tissue could be visualised, its exact location noted and the entire tissue could be removed without inciting much trauma to the uterine wall. In cases with placenta accreta, gentle extraction of the adherent tissue could be done without traumatising the scar. In one case which had multiple fibroids with irregular uterine cavity, hysteroscopy helped in localising the retained tissue.
CONCLUSION
Hysteroscopy is a useful modality in managing cases of secondary PPH, who have persistent bleeding in the postpartum period.
