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DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1276741
Intraluminal Pressure in a Uterine Tamponade Balloon Is Curvilinearly Related to the Volume of Fluid Infused
Publication History
Publication Date:
15 April 2011 (online)
ABSTRACT
We studied the effect of incremental infusion of fluid volume in a tamponade balloon on intraluminal pressure and uterine blood flow. Following placental delivery, a tamponade balloon was inserted into the uterus and incrementally inflated. Intraluminal pressure was measured at incremental volumes. Ultrasound was used to determine positioning of the catheter, uterine wall thickness, and uterine artery velocity waveforms in eight patients. Pressure-volume relationship was estimated by regression analysis. Significance was p < 0.05. There was a significant exponential curvilinear relationship between balloon pressure and infused volume at the maximum volume for each subject (R = 0.64, p = 0.01). Doppler ultrasound showed that at or above 1000 mL inflation volume, 5/6 patients (83%) showed reversal of uterine artery diastolic flow. At maximal inflation volume, all of the patients with reversed diastolic flow had intraluminal pressure less than systolic blood pressure. Intraluminal pressure increases curvilinearly as volume of an intrauterine tamponade balloon is increased. The mechanism of action of tamponade balloons is likely related to a reduction in uterine artery perfusion pressure. Whether this is the result of direct compression of the artery in the lower segment or due to wall conformational changes is not clear.
KEYWORDS
Tamponade balloon - reversed diastolic flow - pressure-volume relationship
REFERENCES
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Michael A BelfortM.B.B.Ch. M.D. Ph.D.
Chairman and Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine
1709 Dryden, Suite 1100, Houston, TX 77030
Email: belfort@bcm.edu