Emergency Peripartum Hysterectomy: A 10-Year Review

Abstract

Background. Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH), although rare in modern obstetrics, remains a life-saving procedure in cases of severe hemorrhage. Purpose. To determine the incidence, risk factors, indications, outcomes, and complications of EPH performed in a tertiary teaching hospital and to compare the results with other reports in the literature. Methods. The medical records of 13 patients who had undergone EPH, between January 2000 and December 2010, were reviewed retrospectively. Maternal characteristics and characteristics of the present pregnancy and delivery, hysterectomy indications, operative complications, postoperative conditions, and maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated. Results. There were 13 EPHs out of 31.767 deliveries, a rate of 0.41 per 1,000 deliveries. Eight hysterectomies were performed after cesarean delivery and five after vaginal delivery. The most common indication for hysterectomy was uterine atony (10/13), followed by placenta previa (2/13). There were one case of intraoperative bladder injury and one case of relaparotomy because of hemoperitoneum. We had one maternal death because of septic shock. There were no cases of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Conclusion. Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity and represents the most challenging complication that an obstetrician will face.