Infectious necrosis with dehiscence of the uterine repair complicating cesarean delivery: a review

Imaging of Antepartum and Postpartum Hemorrhage

Severe obstetric hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Major hemorrhage in the antepartum period presents potential risks for both the mother and the fetus. Similarly, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) accounts for up to a quarter of maternal deaths worldwide. Potential causes of severe antepartum hemorrhage that radiologists should be familiar with include placental abruption, placenta previa, placenta accreta spectrum disorders, and vasa previa. Common causes of PPH that the authors discuss include uterine atony, puerperal genital hematomas, uterine rupture and dehiscence, retained products of conception, and vascular anomalies. Bleeding complications unique to or most frequently encountered after cesarean delivery are also enumerated, including entities such as bladder flap hematomas, rectus sheath and subfascial hemorrhage, and infectious complications of endometritis and uterine dehiscence. ©RSNA, 2024 Test Your Knowledge questions for this article are available in the supplemental material. See the invited commentary by Javitt and Madrazo in this issue.

Intrauterine negative-pressure therapy (IU-NPT) to treat peritonitis after caesarean section

Objectives

We describe the first application of intrauterine negative-pressure therapy (IU-NPT) for an early rupture of a uterine suture after a third caesarean section with consecutive peritonitis and sepsis. Because all four quadrants were affected by peritonitis, a laparotomy was performed on the 15th day after caesarean section. Abdominal negative-pressure wound therapy (A-NPWT) of the open abdomen was initiated. During the planned relaparotomy, a suture defect of the anterior uterine wall was identified and sutured. In the second relaparotomy, the suture appeared once more insufficient.

Case presentation

For subsequent IU-NPT, we used an open-pore film drainage (OFD) consisting of a drainage tube wrapped in the double-layered film. The OFD was inserted into the uterine cavity via the uterine defect and IU-NPT was established together with A-NPT. With the next relaparotomy, local inflammation and peritonitis had been resolved completely. IU-NPT was continued transvaginally, the uterine defect was sutured, and the abdomen was closed. Vaginal IU-NPT was also discontinued after another eight days.

Conclusions

By using IU-NPT, local infection control of the septic focus was achieved. The infectious uterine secretions were completely evacuated and no longer discharged into the abdominal cavity. As a result of the applied suction, the uterine cavity collapsed around the inlaid OFD. The total duration of IU-NPT was 11 days. The uterine defect was completely closed, and a hysterectomy was avoided. The patient was discharged four days after the end of IU-NPT. IU-NPT follows the same principles as those described for endoscopic negative-pressure wound therapy of the gastrointestinal tract.

A Rare Case of Watery Vaginal Discharge due to Caesarean Scar Dehiscence following Brace Suture and Balloon Tamponade for the Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage

A woman in her early twenties with dichorionic diamniotic twins underwent emergency caesarean section (CS) for failed induction of labor for discordant growth at 37 weeks. Her CS was complicated by atonic postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) requiring uterotonics, B-lynch suture, and Bakri balloon. She presented on the 5^th postoperative day (POD) with fever and wound pain and collapsed due to desaturation. Investigations confirmed ascites on computed tomography (CT) of her abdomen and cardiomyopathy on echocardiogram. She was readmitted on the 22^nd POD with watery vaginal discharge. CT abdomen revealed a dehisced CS scar and loculated ascites. Her discharge settled after three weeks with antibiotics and drainage of the ascites. A CT scan 3 months later showed reduction of the peritoneal collection. Caesarean scar dehiscence should be considered for patients presenting with ascites and vaginal discharge after a CS, particularly in the presence of risk factors such as infection or anemia.

The tip of the iceberg: Post caesarean wound dehiscence presenting as abdominal wound sepsis

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Uterine scar dehiscence is a rare but important complication of LSCS surgery.

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Presentation can be in the form of localized/generalized peritonitis, endomyometrosis, and post partum hemorrhage.

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Treatment is surgery with reapproximation or hysterectomy in severe infection.

Introduction

Uterine scar dehiscence can complicate caesarean section with complications like post partum hemorrhage, endomyometritis, localized/generalized peritonitis, and sepsis.

Presentation of case

Our patient had abdominal wound infection after LSCS surgery and features of sepsis. The wound infection was actually the presentation of a uterine scar dehiscence and localized peritonitis.

Discussion

Incidence of uterine scar dehiscence is around 0.6%. Presentation can be post partum hemorrhage, endomyometritis, and generalized/localized peritonitis. Peritonitis caused by uterine incisional necrosis must be dealt surgically. A high index of suspicion with appropriate investigations can highlight such problems for early treatment and cure with least morbidity especially related to further pregnancies.

Conclusion

Uterine scar dehiscence with infection requires high index of suspicion as rare cause for post partum localized/generalized peritonitis with sepsis. Severe abdominal wound infection after caesarean section may be associated with uterine wound dehiscence, which poses a grave risk to the mother in a future pregnancy.

Multimodality imaging of the postpartum or posttermination uterus: evaluation using ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging

Postpartum and posttermination complications are common causes of morbidity and mortality in women of reproductive age. These complications can be broadly categorized into vascular, infectious, surgical, and neoplastic etiologies, or are due to ectopic implantation of placental or endometrial tissue. Causes of postpartum vascular complications include retained products of conception, arteriovenous malformation, and pseudoaneurysm. Infectious entities include endometritis, abscess, wound cellulitis, and pelvic septic thrombophlebitis. Postsurgical complications include uterine scar dehiscence, bladder flap hematoma, and subfascial hematoma. Neoplastic complications include the spectrum of gestational trophoblastic neoplasms. Ectopic tissue implantation complications include abnormal placentation and uterine scar endometriosis. Imaging is essential for diagnosis, and radiologists must be familiar with and aware of these entities so that accurate treatment and management can be obtained. In this review, we illustrate the imaging findings of common postpartum and posttermination complications on ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Rare complications of cesarean scar

Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) and cesarean scar dehiscence (CSD) are the most dreaded complications of cesarean scar (CS). As the incidence of CS is increasing worldwide, so is the incidence of CSP, especially in cases with assisted reproduction techniques. It is of utmost importance to diagnose CSP in the early first trimester, as it can lead to myometrial rupture with fatal outcome. On the other hand, CSD may be encountered during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. CSD in the postpartum period is very rare and can cause secondary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) leading to increased maternal morbidity or even death if not diagnosed and managed promptly. Both complications can be diagnosed on ultrasonography (USG) and confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These two conditions carry high morbidity and mortality. In this article, we highlight the role of imaging in the early diagnosis and management of these conditions.

Postpartum Uterine Wound Dehiscence Leading to Secondary PPH: Unusual Sequelae

Secondary postpartum haemorrhage due to partial or complete dehiscence of uterine wound after caesarean section is unusual. Authors present here a patient with secondary postpartum haemorrhage following uterine dehiscence after caesarean delivery. Conservative management failed to control the bleeding, and she eventually needed hysterectomy. All women who have significant PPH following caesarean should undergo evaluation for any defect in the scar. Scar dehiscence has been diagnosed and repaired after many years of caesarean section in women with persistent abnormal bleeding. Therefore, this condition may have long-term implication if missed postpartum.

Concurrent postpartum uterine and abdominal wall dehiscence and Streptococcus anginosus infection

BACKGROUND

Postpartum uterine scar dehiscence is a rare but potentially lethal complication of cesarean deliveries.

CASE

Concurrent abdominal and uterine dehiscences after cesarean delivery for arrest of descent with chorioamnionitis occurred in a 16-year-old patient after her first delivery. The uterine and fascia incisions were reclosed during exploratory laparotomy. Streptococcus anginosus was isolated from the peritoneal fluid. The patient remained afebrile and was discharged 6 days after relaparotomy and took levofloxacin and metronidazole orally for 5 more days.

CONCLUSION

Uterine scar separation needs to be considered in patients with a fascial dehiscence after cesarean delivery for arrest of labor. Selected cases can be managed conservatively (uterine reclosure), but patients should be counseled about the possible need for hysterectomy at the time of relaparotomy.

Non-surgical management of post-cesarean uterine infection with marked myometrial gas formation

Gas in an infected organ generally indicates a severe infection, often requiring surgery; however, data are lacking as to post-cesarean gas-forming uterine infection. A 27-year-old Japanese primigravida underwent a difficult cesarean section, after which a high fever continued. Computed tomography (CT) revealed marked gas in the uterine anterior myometrium. Diagnosing this condition as post-cesarean uterine scar infection, we recommended surgical intervention, that is, hysterectomy or at least drainage; however, the patient refused it. Considering the patient's desire and lack of organ-failure signs, we employed intensive antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks. Serial CT indicated a gradual decrement in the gas amount and she recovered completely after 8 weeks. This case suggests that surgical procedure may not always be necessary for post-cesarean gas-forming uterine infection and CT may be useful to detect/follow this condition.

Iatrogenic abscess at uterine incision site after cesarean section: sonographic monitoring

A woman with a large abscess at the site of a uterine incision after a cesarean section was successfully managed without hysterectomy. To my knowledge, transvaginal sonographic monitoring of the healing of an abscess at the site of a uterine incision has not been reported. Although in this case it was possible to preserve the uterus, the possibility of a weak uterine scar remains.