Background: Uterine rupture due to a morbidly adherent placenta is a rare obstetrical cause of acute abdominal pain in the pregnant patient. We present a case to add to the small body of published literature describing this diagnosis.
Case: A 32-year-old G5T2P1A1L2 with multiple prior cesarean sections presented at 21+3 weeks' gestation with abdominal pain and presyncope. Ultrasound showed a large volume of complex intraabdominal free fluid and a heterogenous placenta with irregular lacunae and increased vascularity extending to the posterior bladder wall. Exploratory laparotomy identified a uterine defect and a hysterectomy was performed due to significant bleeding. Pathology confirmed a diagnosis of placenta percreta.
Conclusion: Early recognition and management of uterine rupture due to a morbidly adherent placenta are essential to prevent catastrophic hemorrhage.