Effectiveness of pericervical tourniquet by Foley catheter reducing blood loss at abdominal myomectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effectivenes of pericervical tourniquet by Foley catheter reducing blood loss at abdominal myomectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 67 cases, with symptomatic myoma uteri and undertaken abdominal myomectomy, was performed. Myomectomy was performed in Group 1 (n = 34) by Foley catheter tourniquet around both uterin vessels and in Group 2 (n = 33) the tourniquet was not performed. RESULTS: The average blood loss during myomectomy was 286.4 +/- 137.5 ml for the tourniquet group and 673.8 +/- 172.3 ml for the control group. Postoperative blood transfusion was necessary in two patients from the control group. Technique significantly reduced the intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hemoglobin fall in patients. No serious complications occured on account of the tourniquet technique. CONCLUSIONS: The pericervical tourniquet by Foley catheter is a safe and effective method for reducing blood loss during abdominal myomectomy, although it should be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.