Arterial balloon occlusion of the hypogastric arteries: a life-saving procedure for severe obstetric hemorrhage.

In this case report we describe two patients with life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage who were treated successfully with arterial balloon occlusion of the hypogastric arteries. Arterial balloon occlusion is easy to perform and is applicable under difficult circumstances. The technique should be available in all hospitals that provide obstetric services. Obstetricians should know about it so they can ask their radiologic colleagues to perform the procedure.

Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of an intracranial teratoma influencing management: case report and review of the literature.

Of seventeen cases of prenatally diagnosed intracranial teratomas, fourteen babies were delivered through a cesarean section. All children died before or shortly after delivery. In this report another case is presented of ultrasound diagnosis of an intracranial teratoma. The teratoma filled the whole fetal cranium, and eroded through the skull base into the left maxillary region. In full agreement with the wishes of the parents, conservative management resulted in the spontaneous vaginal delivery of a fetus that died during labor as a result of brain compression and acidosis during the second stage. In contrast with other cases in the literature, no encephalocentesis was performed. In order to minimize maternal morbidity, it is advised to induce or accept labor as soon as the diagnosis is clear and to pursue a vaginal delivery.