Rupture of the uterus

Complete Uterine Rupture: A Case Report

Background: Uterine rupture during pregnancy is a considerable obstetric complication. The presence of a previous uterine scar is the most significant risk factor. Early clinical diagnosis is paramount to maternal and fetal survival. Case Report: A 36- year-old woman, gravida 2 para 2, presented with sudden acute abdominal pain at 38 weeks of gestation. The patient had a history of cesarean delivery one year ago. Ultrasound scans showed an empty endometrial cavity and fetus outside the uterus. Emergency laparotomy was performed, a live baby boy weighing 3.420 kg was delivered, and the uterine disruption was repaired. Conclusion: Increasing trends in the cesarean section may lead to a higher number of uterine ruptures. The survival of patients after uterine rupture depends on the time interval between rupture and intervention, and the availability of appropriate medical team and equipment. Health professionals caring for pregnant women should be alert for the symptoms and risk factors of uterine rupture.

Uterine wall rupture in a primigravid patient with oligohydramnios as the first manifestation: A case report

RATIONALE

Spontaneous uterine rupture during pregnancy, occurring most often during labor in the context of a scarred uterus, is a serious obstetric complication. Perhaps even more serious because of its extreme rarity, spontaneous uterine rupture in a primigravid patient with an unscarred gravid uterus would be essentially unexpected. Clinical manifestations of unscarred uterine ruptures are nonspecific and can be confusing, making a correct early diagnosis very difficult.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A primigravid woman at 27 weeks of gestation presented to our hospital with acute oligohydramnios. Ultrasound examination at her local hospital revealed oligohydramnios that had not been present 1 week previously. A specific cause of the acute oligohydramnios, however, was not established.

DIAGNOSIS

Upon transfer to our hospital, the patient was hemodynamically stable without abdominal tenderness or peritoneal signs. Transabdominal ultrasound was repeated and confirmed oligohydramnios and seroperitoneum. The fetal heart rate was in the normal range, and blood tests revealed a low hemoglobin level of 91 g/L, which had been normal recently. A repeat sonogram after admission found that there was almost no amniotic fluid within the uterine cavity, and there was increased peritoneal fluid. Repeat hemoglobin showed a further decrease to 84 g/L. The combination of increased free abdominal fluid, lack of intrauterine fluid, and acutely decreasing hemoglobin strongly suggested uterine rupture with active intraperitoneal bleeding.

INTERVENTIONS

Emergent laparotomy was performed, and a male infant was delivered. Comprehensive abdominal exploration revealed a rupture in the right uterine cornua with ongoing slow bleeding, through which a portion of the amniotic sac protruded into the abdominal cavity.

OUTCOMES

The laceration was repaired, the patient and neonate recovered without complications, and were discharged 5 days postoperatively.

LESSONS

An increased awareness of the rare but real possibility of spontaneous uterine rupture in a primigravid patient with no prior uterine scarring helped to establish an earlier diagnosis. Obstetricians should consider this possibility in pregnant females, even in the absence of risk factors and in early gestational age, when sudden unexplained clinical manifestations, such as acute oligohydramnios, are encountered.

Uterine rupture in a primigravid patient, an uncommon but severe obstetrical event: a case report

BACKGROUND

A spontaneous rupture of the unscarred uterus in a primigravid patient is extremely rare and is associated with high perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 34-year-old white primigravid woman, 31 + 3 weeks of gestation, presented with pre-eclampsia and developed a sudden acute abdomen. An emergency laparotomy was performed and a uterine rupture was found as the cause of the event. A stillborn girl was born.

CONCLUSION

A rupture of the pregnant uterus should always be considered in a pregnant woman presenting with abdominal pain, even in a primigravid patient.

Obstetric morbidity and socio-cultural predictors of ruptured uterus among women in Southeast Nigeria

This study determined the incidence, obstetric morbidity and the socio-cultural factors associated with ruptured uterus. A 6-year prospective review of ruptured uterus and an enquiry into socio-cultural barriers to specialised care was conducted. The incidence of ruptured uterus was 12 per 1000 deliveries. Occurrence was common in uneducated (78/116; 67.2%), unbooked (110/116; 94.8%) and rural women (112/116; 96.6%). The major causes were prolonged obstructed labour (104/116; 89.7%) and injudicious use of oxytocics (90/116; 77.6%). The maternal and perinatal case fatality rates were 18.1% and 96.6%, respectively. Complications resulted from haemorrhage and sepsis. Lack of birth plan (97/116; 79.3%) and unskilled birth attendance (110/116; 94.8%) were major socio-cultural risk factors. There was an association between education (p = 0.001), parity (p = 0.002), residence (<0.001), type of birth attendance (<0.001) and ruptured uterus. Women in low-income settings face threats of complications and death from uterine rupture, owing to preventable socio-cultural barriers of accessing specialised obstetric care.

Spontaneous rupture of an unscarred gravid uterus in a primigravid woman at 32 weeks of gestation

Uterine rupture usually occurs in a scarred uterus, especially secondary to prior cesarean section. Antepartum uterine rupture in an unscarred uterus is extremely rare. We report a case of spontaneous rupture of an unscarred gravid uterus at 32 weeks of gestation in a primigravid woman. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a bulging cystic lesion communicating with the intrauterine cavity. Operative findings during emergent cesarean section revealed uterine perforation in the right cornual area and a prolapsed, nonbleeding amniotic sac. The left cornual area was also focally thin. An arcuate uterus was suspected based on follow-up hysterosalpingography. Antepartum uterine rupture tends to occur in the uterine cornual area. In this case, Müllerian duct anomalies may have been associated with focal myometrial defects.

A two-year review of uterine rupture in a regional hospital

BACKGROUND

Uterine rupture causes high maternal and neonatal mortality in many rural setting in the world. Further studies might provide specific interventions to reduce the high prevalence.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency, causes, clinical presentation, management and outcome of uterine rupture

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Upper West Regional Hospital, Wa, Ghana.

DESIGN

Retrospective descriptive study.

METHOD

A descriptive study of cases of ruptured uterus in the Regional Hospital from 1st January, 2007 to 31st December 2008 was done. A structured questionnaire was developed to collate data from various registers for analysis.

RESULTS

Total deliveries were 5085 with 4172(82%) spontaneous vaginal delivery and 911(17.9%) caesarean sections. Uterine rupture occurred in 41 cases for a ratio of 1:124 Grand multipara with five or more deliveries represented 41.5% while those with two prior successful deliveries represented 31.7%. The mean parity was 3.8 (SD 2.3) under antenatal care, 85.4% had at least four visits. Severe anaemia 28(68.3%) and abdominal tenderness 27(65.8%) were the most frequent clinical presentation while the use of local herbal concoction with suspected uterotonic activity 24(58.5%), fetopelvic disproportion 4 (9.8%) and malpresentation 5(12.1%) were the most significant causes. Major complications were: neonatal deaths 34(82.9%), maternal mortality 4(9.8%) and wound infections 15 (36.6%). Subtotal hysterectomy 10(24.4%) and total hysterectomy 18(43.8%) were preferred to uterine repair 12(23.3%) and 87.8% required at least two units of blood transfusion.

CONCLUSION

skilled attendance with accessible emergency obstetric care and focused antenatal care are key elements for the prevention and management of uterine rupture.

“Silent” rupture of unscarred gravid uterus with subsequent pelvic abscess: Successful laparoscopic management

Intrapartum rupture of an unscarred uterus is rare in current times. However, it is still associated with significant maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Unlike rupture or dehiscence of a previous cesarean scar, which is occasionally bloodless, complete rupture of a gravid unscarred uterus frequently results in fetal jeopardy and significant maternal intraperitoneal bleeding, causes acute abdomen, and demands emergency surgical (laparotomy) intervention. Laparoscopy generally has no role in such circumstances due to the generally unstable maternal hemodynamic condition and the necessity of prompt fetal delivery with an abdominal approach. We present a rare case of intrapartum rupture of an unscarred gravid uterus with an atypical insidious clinical course. The diagnosis of complete uterine rupture was made 20 days after the patient's successful vaginal delivery, at which time a large pelvic abscess formed. The condition was successfully managed laparoscopically. Successful vaginal delivery, even with normal lochia, good uterine contraction, and stable vital signs, does not preclude the possibility of uterine rupture. For patients with unusual postpartum pelvic pain, uterine rupture should be considered as one of the possible etiologic factors, and prompt survey should be performed. Laparoscopic intervention may be valuable in such situations.

Ruptured uterus: a seven-year review of cases from Accra, Ghana

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence, causes, management, and the means of prevention of uterine rupture, as well as the characteristics of women with the condition, recorded in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana.

DESIGN

A retrospective study between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2001.

RESULTS

During the study period, of 82061 deliveries at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 193 women developed uterine rupture, an incidence of 2.4 per 1000 deliveries. Of these 193 women, 24.6% had had a previous Caesarean section. The most frequent associated factor of uterine rupture was prolonged labour (33.6%). The perinatal mortality rate was 74.3%. Almost 70% (66.9%) of women underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy as management. The case fatality rate was 1.0%.

CONCLUSION

A more vigilant approach to preventing prolonged and obstructed labour in delivery units within and around Accra, Ghana, is required to reduce the incidence of this condition.