20/01/2026
AJOG Surgeon's Corner: External aortic compression: buying time to save lives in obstetric hemorrhage - External aortic compression for the control of obstetric hemorrhage
The operator must explain the procedure to the patient and her companion before performing it. When performed properly, it causes pain for the patient, analgesics should be administered to make the procedure more tolerable. A, Frontal view and B, lateral view of external manual aortic compression: the operator should position themselves next to the patient and use a step stool to acquire a height that allows them to place their dominant arm extended over the patient's navel at a 90-degree angle to the stretcher. The operator's body position is the same as used for chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, with the elbow extended, and the back and knees straight. The operator should not attempt to exert muscular force on the patient, but simply rest the weight of their torso on the patient's abdomen. https://ow.ly/LjIc50XZpPv
