BACKGROUND: Von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder caused by quantitative or qualitative defects of von Willebrand factor, which may lead to postpartum bleeding problems. In such patients, resistant postpartum hemorrhage may be treated effectively by using transcatheter arterial embolization. CASE: Life-threatening late postpartum bleeding of a patient with von Willebrand disease type 3 unresponsive to traditional medical approaches was successfully managed with selective uterine artery embolization. CONCLUSION: Selective transcatheter uterine artery embolization may be used to control life-threatening pelvic hemorrhage unresponsive to traditional local measures. Such an intervention may also be used successfully in patients with bleeding disorders as the last chance of uterine preservation.
BACKGROUND:Von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder caused by quantitative or qualitative defects of von Willebrand factor, which may lead to postpartum bleeding problems. In such patients, resistant postpartum hemorrhage may be treated effectively by using transcatheter arterial embolization. CASE: Life-threatening late postpartum bleeding of a patient with von Willebrand disease type 3 unresponsive to traditional medical approaches was successfully managed with selective uterine artery embolization. CONCLUSION: Selective transcatheter uterine artery embolization may be used to control life-threatening pelvic hemorrhage unresponsive to traditional local measures. Such an intervention may also be used successfully in patients with bleeding disorders as the last chance of uterine preservation.