Parallel vertical compression sutures: a technique to control bleeding from placenta praevia or accreta during caesarean section.

Fourteen women with placenta praevia (including one who also had placenta accreta) undergoing caesarean section had massive bleeding after removal of the placenta. In order to preserve the uterus, two parallel vertical compression sutures were placed in the lower segment to compress the anterior and posterior walls of the lower uterine segment. The haemorrhage from the lower segment stopped immediately after the knots were tightened. All women later resumed normal menstrual flow with no apparent complications. Two of the 14 women had a spontaneous pregnancy one to two years after the operation. This parallel vertical compression suturing technique is simple, easy and effective for controlling bleeding in women with placenta praevia or accreta. We suggest that this technique be tried first before other more complex procedures are undertaken.