Pregnancy following simple repair of the ruptured gravid uterus

[Spontaneous open book uterine rupture at 15 weeks' gestation in a pauciparous woman with scarred uterus: a case study]

Despite all the health policies implemented in our developing countries, uterine rupture (RU) remains common. They are severe and involve maternal and fetal prognosis. Among the multiple risk factors, the most common cited in the literature is C-section scar. Most occurs during labor or at the end of pregnancy. Uterine rupture during the first or second trimester is exceptional and its clinical manifestation is variable. We here report a case of spontaneous uterine rupture at 15 weeks' gestation in a pauciparous woman with scarred uterus. Exacerbation of clinical symptoms was manifested by peritoneal irritation. Surgical exploration revealed complete vertical rupture from the bottom to the lower segment of the uterus with open book opening of the uterus. This study highlights that uterine rupture should be considered in patients with scarred uterus presenting with abdominal pain associated with signs of hemoperitoneum, regardless of whether their pregnancies are at term or in the first two trimesters, and regardless of age (young patients) and parity.

Pregnancy After Uterine Rupture: A Report of 5 Cases and a Review of the Literature

Management and outcome of 5 cases of pregnancy after uterine rupture are discussed. All women in these cases were delivered by cesarean delivery and no repeat ruptures occurred. After reviewing the literature, it is concluded that women with a previous uterine rupture have a favorable outcome in a subsequent pregnancy. With a rupture in a lower segment scar, an elective cesarean delivery should be performed before labor starts after assessing fetal lung maturity or administration of corticosteroids.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completion of this article, the reader should be able to describe the risk associated with a subsequent pregnancy after a previous uterine rupture, summarize the complications of uterine rupture during a subsequent pregnancy, and to list the treatment plans for a patient in a subsequent pregnancy after uterine rupture.

A follow-up of repair of ruptured uterus in Ethiopia

The uterus was conserved and repaired in 238 of 245 mothers admitted with ruptured uterus to a rural hospital in Ethiopia between 1991 and 1995. The patients have been followed for intervals varying from 6 years and 3 months to 1 year and 11 months since treatment of their rupture. One hundred and eleven mothers have given birth to 117 healthy babies. All mothers are well. Repair of uterine rupture is medically safe and culturally acceptable to the population served, provided the mothers are willing to spend the latter months of subsequent pregnancies in the maternity waiting area.

Uterine rupture

Uterine rupture is an uncommon obstetric event. It is important because it continues to be associated with maternal mortality, especially in developing countries, and with major maternal morbidity, particularly peripartum hysterectomy. It is also associated with a high incidence of perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. This chapter examines the incidence, aetiology, clinical presentation, complications and prevention of uterine rupture. The key factor in the cause of rupture is whether or not the uterus is scarred. Rupture of an unscarred uterus is rare, usually traumatic, and its incidence decreases with improvement in obstetric practice. Rupture of the scarred uterus is more common, and usually occurs after a trial of labour in a patient with a previous Caesarean section. This chapter also explores how the incidence and complications of uterine rupture may be minimized, and yet the incidence of vaginal birth after Caesarean section (VBAC) optimized, in clinical practice.

Uterine rupture and scar dehiscence. A five-year survey

A review of the medical records from two public hospitals in Sydney was undertaken to determine the incidence of this uncommon complication. Twenty-seven cases of uterine rupture were reported out of 31,115 deliveries with an incidence of 0.086% (versus 0.05% in the current literature). The incidence associated with previous caesarean section was 0.038% (versus 0.8% in the current literature). Predisposing and associated factors in this review were similar to those reported by others. There was no maternal mortality in our series but the fetal mortality rate was 5 out of 27 cases. Uterine ruptures in the midtrimester were associated with high rates of maternal morbidity and fetal loss. Forty-eight per cent of patients with uterine rupture received epidural analgesia. The associated factors and outcomes are discussed. The current literature is reviewed in relation to this high-risk group of patients.

Obstetric uterine rupture in north Jordan

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to determine the aetiological factors of uterine rupture during labour, and propose preventive measures.

METHODS

This retrospective study was performed between February 1989 and July 1994, to analyze the cases of rupture uterus in relation to causes, age, parity, maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity.

RESULTS

There were 37 cases of uterine rupture at our institutions. Obstructed labour by malpresentation and disproportion was the main cause. The presence of previous caesarean section scar, dysfunctional labour, injudicious use of uterine stimulant, were the other causes. There was no maternal death and the fetal loss was 17 (46%).

CONCLUSIONS

The high incidence of uterine rupture is attributed to lack of prenatal care, labour in high risk patients outside the hospital because of declining economy, and more patients with 2 or more previously scarred uterus with many of them labouring more than 14 hours. Maternal and neonatal complications have remained very high in the developing countries.

Uterine rupture in pregnancy reviewed

Uterine rupture is associated with maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. In developed countries there have been many recent advances in the management of labour. This study, therefore, reviewed this Hospital's experience of uterine rupture in the decade 1982 to 1991. Excluding cases of asymptomatic scar dehiscence, there were 15 cases of uterine rupture in 65,488 deliveries, giving an overall incidence of 1 in 4,366. There was no case of rupture in 21,998 primigravidas. Of the 15 cases, only two occurred in 39,529 multigravidas without a previous uterine scar (1 in 19,765), and 13 cases occurred in the 3,961 multigravidas with a previous caesarean section scar (1 in 304). Twelve of the 13 ruptures after caesarean section occurred in the delivery immediately after the section. There were no maternal deaths but five (33%) patients required a hysterectomy. Three of the five perinatal deaths were attributable to the rupture. Ten of the 15 patients had labour induced, and a total of 13 patients received an oxytocic agent. Of the 15 cases, 8 were diagnosed during labour and 7 postpartum. Compared with earlier reports from Dublin, the incidence of uterine rupture was low due to a decrease in the number of ruptures associated with trauma or obstetric manipulation. The main associated feature was previous caesarean section. This review highlights the risk of uterine rupture when an oxytocic agent is administered to a multigravid patient with a previous caesarean section scar.