Management of severe postpartum hemorrhage by intrauterine irrigation with prostaglandin E₂

Continuous intrauterine irrigation with minute amounts of prostaglandin E₂ was used in 22 patients with severe postpartum hemorrhage unmanageable by conventional therapy. Twenty-one women were treated because of uterine atonic hemorrhage and one because of late postpartum hemorrhage from subinvolution. A quick tetanic contraction of the uterine muscle with dramatic and sustained hemostasis was achieved in all patients. The therapeutic response was continuous and uninterrupted regardless of the predisposing factors for the hemorrhage or the hemodynamic condition of the patients. No side effects were observed.