Spontaneous rupture of unscarred uterus at 27 weeks of gestation

Spontaneous Rupture of the Unscarred Uterus: A Review of the Literature

Importance

Uterine rupture is defined as a nonsurgical disruption of all layers of the uterus. Most ruptures occur in the presence of a scar, usually secondary to a previous cesarean delivery. Rupture of an unscarred uterus is rare and is associated with severe maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Objective

To outline the literature on potential predisposing factors, clinical findings, and maternal and fetal outcomes of a rupture of an unscarred uterus.

Evidence Acquisition

PubMed was searched for the phrases "uterine rupture," "unscarred," and "spontaneous." Individual case reports, retrospective case series, and review articles in English between 1983 and 2020 were included.

Results

We found 84 case reports in 79 articles. The mean maternal age was 29.3 (SD, 5.7) years; 38 women (45.2%) were nulliparous. Uterine rupture occurred in 37% of the women at term; in 9.9%, the gestational age was ≤12 weeks. The most common clinical presentations were abdominal pain (77.4%), signs of hypovolemic shock (36.9%), fetal distress (31%), and vaginal bleeding (22.6%). The most common risk factors were the use of uterotonic drugs for induction or augmentation of labor and a prior curettage procedure. The most frequently ruptured site was the body of the uterus. Hysterectomy managed 36.9% of the ruptures. Four women died (4.8%). Perinatal mortality was 50.6%. Perinatal death was higher in developing than developed countries.

Conclusions and relevance

Although rare, spontaneous rupture of the unscarred uterus has serious consequences to the mother and the fetus and should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen in pregnancy.

UTERINE RUPTURE IN THIRD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY FOLLOWING CORNUAL RESECTION DUE TO ECTOPIC PREGNANCY

Uterine rupture during pregnancy is a critical obstetric complication associated with maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. The risk is increased in patients with a history of previous uterine surgery including cesarean section, myomectomy, salpingectomy, as well as uterine and placental anomalies and polyhydramnios. It can also occur spontaneously. We present a case of uterine rupture in the early third trimester in a woman who had undergone previous laparoscopic removal of the left fallopian tube due to sactosalpinx and laparotomic removal of left uterine horn due to ectopic pregnancy.

Recurrence of a second-trimester uterine rupture in the fundus distant from old scars: A case report and review of the literature

Uterine rupture is a rare event which can have severe obstetric consequences and most often occurs on a scarred uterus at the site of the scar. However, a uterine rupture can appear at another location. We report the case of a woman with a previous emergency caesarean section for spontaneous posterior uterine rupture which recurred at another site during her second pregnancy. She was admitted to the emergency room with acute abdominal pain and development of a pre-shock hemorrhagic state. Abdominal ultrasound showed abundant peritoneal fluid and a fetus without cardiac activity in an intact bulging amniotic fluid membrane. We performed an emergency laparotomy, which confirmed an intact amniotic sac in the abdominal cavity and showed a 7 cm transverse fundal uterine rupture beginning at the right angle, distant from the old known scars. In view of the high maternal and fetal morbidity, obstetricians should have a high suspicion of an antepartum uterine rupture, even at an early gestational age, in the event of acute abdominal pain over a scarred uterus.

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Exceptional case of a second uterine rupture in the second trimester distant from old scars.

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Spontaneous uterine rupture in the second trimester is associated with a higher maternal-fetal morbidity.

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The most common site of spontaneous uterine rupture which did not occur during labor is the fundus.

Silent spontaneous posterior uterine rupture of a prior caesarean delivery at 36 weeks of gestation

Background

In caesarean section patients, the spontaneous rupture of the posterior wall of the uterus is extremely rare, with nonspecific signs and symptoms being present. Perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality are high.

Case presentation

A 28-year-old woman at 36 + 6 weeks of gestation presented with mild uterine contractions and developed a sudden abdominal distension. An emergency laparotomy was performed, and the posterior wall of the uterus had ruptured. A baby boy was born.

Conclusion

Silent uterine rupture is very rare and easy to ignore due to nonspecific clinical symptoms, unexplained haemoglobin reduction and haemoperitoneum, but these features caution us to more closely consider uterine rupture in patients.

Uterine rupture at 28 weeks of gestation after laparoscopic myomectomy - a case report

There are many reasons for sterility, and uterine malformations are of the greatest concern. Among uterine disorders, myomas play a significant role and are present in 27% of infertile women. The occurrence of myomas is frequent - 20-40% in women of reproductive age. Thus, for those infertile patients surgical treatment may be needed to preserve an opportunity to conceive. This case report refers to an uterine rupture at 28 weeks of gestation after laparoscopic myomectomy (3 months before conceiving). The myomectomy was conducted correctly and two layers of sutures on the myometrium were performed. The purpose of the myomectomy in a young woman should be well considered. In cases of infertility, removal of the lesions is usually necessary to give the patient a chance of pregnancy. At the same time, the risk of uterine rupture is increased. There are some suggestions referring to myomectomy to reduce the risk of uterine rupture in a subsequent pregnancy. It seems that the method of sewing the uterine closure is crucial. For example, multilayer uterine stitches, preservation of the endometrial cavity, and avoidance of using electrosurgery to prevent devascularization (to avoid haematoma formation) should be taken into consideration to prevent weakness of the wall of the uterus. Uterine scars differ histologically and biochemically.

First trimester spontaneous uterine rupture in a young woman with uterine anomaly

Spontaneous uterine rupture is a life-threatening obstetrical emergency carrying a high risk for the mother and the fetus. Spontaneous uterine rupture in early pregnancy is very rare complication and it occurs usually in scarred uterus. Uterine anomalies are one of the reasons for spontaneous unscarred uterine rupture in early pregnancy. Obstetricians must consider this diagnosis when a pregnant patient presented with acute abdomen in early pregnancy. We present a case of spontaneous uterine rupture at 12 weeks of gestation in 24-year-old multigravida who had uterine anomaly presenting as an acute abdomen. Our preoperative diagnosis was ectopic pregnancy. Emergency laparotomy confirmed a spontaneous uterine rupture. Uterine anomaly is a risk factor for spontaneous uterine rupture in the early pregnancy. Clinical signs of uterine rupture in early pregnancy are nonspecific and must be distinguished from acute abdominal emergencies.