Tourniquet on the low segment of the uterus reduces blood loss in postpartum hemorrhage during hysterectomy for placenta accreta: Old but gold.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficiency after application of a cervical tourniquet during caesarian hysterectomy owing to placenta accreta. Study design: It was a monocentric prospective observational study for 3 years. Patients were allocated into two group: Group Tourniquet: (TG) in which a cervical tourniquet was systematically applied during hysterectomy, control group (CG) when the caesarian hysterectomy was performed without. Results: 20 patients in the TG and 23 patients in the CG. Tourniquet application significantly reduced per operative estimated blood loss volume (TG: 530 ± 135 vs 940 ± 120 ml in the CG, p = 0.0074), ΔHB (0.6 [0.3-1.9] vs 2.5[2.5-3.6] g/dl in the CG, p = 0.006) RBC transfusion requirements' (TG: 2 ± 1.7 vs 4.3 ± 2.1 units in the CG, p = 0.046) procedure duration (TG: 98 ± 21 vs 137 ± 33 min in the CG, p = 0.015), clotting disorders (TG: 1 (5%) vs 6 (26,1%) in the CG, p = 0.013) and the incidence of bladder wounds (TG: 1 (5%) vs 5 (21,7%) in the CG, p = 0.048). There was no significant difference regarding ICU transfer rate (TG: 16 (80%) vs 20 (86.9%) in the CG, p = 0.53) or length of stay (TG: 1.4 [2,3] vs 2.3 [1-4] days in the CG, p = 0.615) and digestive wound (TG: 0 vs 2 (8,7%) in the CG, p = 0.641). Conclusion: In case of a radical management of placenta accreta. A strategy that involves the application of a cervical Tourniquet should be considered as a feasible, safe and above all efficient alternative to prevent blood spoliation.

[Les fistules recto-vaginales d'origine obstétricale: aspects épidémiologiques et approaches thérapeutiques. Etude multicentrique tunisienne]. / Rectovaginal obstetrical fistulas. Therapeutic attitudes. A Multicenter tunisian study.

BACKGROUND: Rectovaginal fistulas are abnormal epithelial-lined connections between the rectum and vagina. The aquired etiology caused by child birth are still frequent in many countries. AIM: to describe epidemiology of obstetrical recto vaginal fistula in our country and discuss therapeutic modalities Materiel and methods: A retrospective multicentric study among 19 hospital departments from February 1982 to January 2007 of obstetrical recto-vaginal fistulas including 41 patients. RESULTS: The median diameter of the fistula was 12 mm. the treatment consist on excision of the fistula and perineal suturing in 34 cases, Advancement flaps was used in four cases, the Musset technique repair in two cases, Gracilis transposition for repair was used in one case. Forty five patients had satisfactory anatomic and functional satisfactory results. One patient had reported dyspareunia. Definitive failure was reported in four cases. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests a regression in obstetrical RVF. However many efforts on institutional, socioeconomic and obstetrical levels have to be done in order to eradicate this pathology. Surgical treatments have good results. However prevention of this complication is the best treatment because a major handicap for women regarding socioeconomic, functional and psychological effects.