RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of emergency hysterectomy on arresting severe postpartum hemorrhage. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 10 cases of hysterectomy by reason of postpartum hemorrhage between Jan 1990 and Dec 2000. RESULTS: All the patients were severe postpartum hemorrhage that couldn't be controlled by conservative treatment. Among them, there were 5 cases of DIC, 2 cases of placental adherence, 1 case each of uterine atony, uterine rupture and infection of uterine incision. Blood loss averaged 2,427 ml. All the 10 patients were recovered. Emergency hysterectomy was related to times of gestation and delivery and also to delivery pattern. CONCLUSION: Emergency hysterectomy is one of the effective methods on arresting severe postpartum hemorrhage.