Application of ultrasound-guided balloon occlusion in cesarean section in 130 cases of sinister placenta previa

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical utility of ultrasound-guided balloon occlusion in cesarean section in patients with sinister placenta previa. METHODS: The Interventional and Ultrasound Departments of the authors’ center assisted obstetrics to complete cesarean section in cases of sinister placenta previa. A total of 130 patients with implanted sinister placenta previa were diagnosed using obstetrical ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Before cesarean section, the balloon was positioned in the bilateral radial or abdominal aorta. Immediately after delivery of the fetus, the balloon was temporarily filled to transiently seal the target vessel. According to the obstetrician’s assessment of hemostasis, the balloon was withdrawn at the appropriate time. Among the 130 patients, there was one case of abdominal aortic occlusion, with 129 cases blocked by the bilateral common iliac artery. RESULTS: All 130 cases were successfully blocked, with an average blocking time of <15 ​min, while intraoperative blood loss was 800–1500 ​ml. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided balloon blocking treatment before cesarean section can mitigate the dangers of placenta previa and significantly reduce blood loss with no exposure to X-ray radiation. Thus, the technique merits serious consideration.