Limitations of internal iliac artery ligation for the reduction of intraoperative hemorrhage during cesarean hysterectomy in cases of placenta previa accreta

Aim: Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of internal iliac ligation as a bleeding control during cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of placenta accreta receiving cesarean hysterectomy during the period of 1987-2006 in the Saitama Medical Center. The clinical outcomes of these patients either receiving or not receiving internal iliac artery ligation were compared in terms of bleeding amount, and length of hospitalization. The bleeding amounts in the variants of placenta accreta managed with internal iliac artery ligation were also analyzed to determine whether the different pathological findings would affect blood loss during cesarean hysterectomy. Results: Among 23 cases, the mean blood loss during the operation and the length of hospitalization after the operation, with or without internal iliac artery ligation (IIAL) were not significantly different. There was no significant difference between the mean blood loss and the pathological findings of cases managed with IIAL. Conclusion: In cases of placenta previa accreta, ligation of the internal iliac artery did not significantly contribute to hemostasis during cesarean hysterectomy.