DIY PPH Tools: FOCUS, STUT, and/or U-CaVIT

Uterine hemorrhage remains a significant complication following abortion loss and in the postpartum period and contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality among pregnant patients. Although some FDA approved devices are on the market (Bakri balloon and Jada vacuum), they may be cost prohibited in some settings and/or some uterine cavities may be very small for either option, like after a mid-second trimester or early third trimester PPH. But every delivery unit has some form of suction tool and wall suction ability. This is where FOCUS*, STUT, and/or U-CaVIT come into play. And now there is new data on this from the AJOG (epub, April 2026). Listen in for details. (*Shout Out to Dr. Frank Jackson for his work on this as well).

1. Singata-Madliki et al. Suction Tube Uterine Tamponade Versus Uterine Balloon Tamponade for Treatment of Refractory Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Randomized Clinical Feasibility Trial. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics: The Official Organ of FIGO. July 2025. (South Africa)

2. Hofmeyr GJ, Singata-Madliki M. Novel Suction Tube Uterine Tamponade for Treating Intractable Postpartum Haemorrhage: Description of Technique and Report of Three Cases. BJOG : An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2020

3. Jackson FI, Dilena NJ, Abelman SH, Blitz MJ, Gerber S. Hemorrhage management using a Foley catheter for uterine suction. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Nov;233(5):503-504.

4. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 183: Postpartum Hemorrhage. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2017.

5. Ranieri E, Kalimeris S, Ochsenbein N, Haslinger C, Vacuum-Induced Tamponade Using Urological Catheters for Postpartum Hemorrhage, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2026), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2026.04.026