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

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019 Jan 11;19(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s12884-019-2180-3.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Caesarean section; Pregnancy; Uterine rupture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cesarean Section*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Laparotomy
  • Obstetric Labor Complications / diagnosis*
  • Obstetric Labor Complications / surgery
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods
  • Pregnancy
  • Uterine Rupture / diagnosis*
  • Uterine Rupture / surgery