Inferior Mesenteric Artery Embolization with N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate for Life-Threatening Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review

ABSTRACT

The inferior mesenteric artery is a rare source of postpartum hemorrhage. We report two cases of primary postpartum hemorrhage that originated from the inferior mesenteric artery after vaginal delivery. Both patients showed signs of hypovolemic shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation was suspected. The bleeding continued even after embolization of the uterine artery, a typical source of postpartum hemorrhage. Inferior mesenteric arteriography confirmed contrast extravasation from the superior rectal artery, and selective embolization was performed using N-butyl cyanoacrylate. This report highlights that the inferior mesenteric artery can be a source of bleeding in patients with intractable and persistent postpartum hemorrhage due to birth canal injury.