Ovarian artery clamp: Initial experience with a new clamp to reduce bleeding at open myomectomy

Abstract

We studied the effect of novel ovarian artery clamps on intraoperative bleeding in 46 women undergoing open myomectomy for large fibroids. The clamps were applied medial to the ovaries to occlude uterine blood flow from the ovarian arteries without compressing the fallopian tubes, and were used in conjunction with a pericervical tourniquet. Myomectomy was completed successfully in all patients, and an average of 10 fibroids weighing 588 g were removed per patient. The clamps could be applied bilaterally in all but three cases. In the 45 women when at least one ovarian artery clamp was used, the intraoperative blood loss averaged 500 ml, which was comparable with historic data with conventional tourniquets. Ovarian artery clamps appear to be as effective as tourniquets applied to the infundibulopelvic ligaments in reducing bleeding at open myomectomy but have the advantage that they do not occlude ovarian perfusion or crush the fallopian tubes.

Techniques to reduce blood loss during open myomectomy: a qualitative review of literature

“…The clamp was placed medial to both ovaries with both fallopian tubes inside the aperture. The results appeared comparable with the conventional ovarian artery clamps (11).…”

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

“…During myomectomy operations, obstructing blood flow of the uterus and ovarian vessels completely [22,27] should not be the primary goal. Otherwise, ovarian functions, fertility, and wound healing in the uterus may be adversely affected.…”

Benefits of the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity of etoricoxib in the prevention of ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury induced experimentally in rats

“…Blood flow in the arteries supplying the ovaries needs to be temporarily stopped during various gynecological operations such as myomectomy and uterine artery embolization used in the treatment of fibroid tumor . Damage to the arteries supplying the ovaries is also an undesired side‐effect in operations, such as damaged as cystectomy and endometrioma, and ischemia‐related ovarian functions may develop .…”