Incidence of Emergency Peripartum Hysterectomy in a Tertiary Obstetrics Unit in Romania

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) is a life-saving surgical procedure performed when medical and surgical conservative measures fail to control postpartum hemorrhage. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of EPH and to determine the factors leading to this procedure and the maternal outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study with all cases of EPH performed at Filantropia Clinical Hospital in Bucharest between January 2012 and May 2021. Results: There were 36 EPH, from a total of 36,099 births recorded. The overall incidence of EPH was 0.99 per 1000 deliveries, most cases being related to placenta accreta spectrum disorder and uterine atony. Conclusions: Peripartum hysterectomy is associated with an important maternal morbidity rate and severe complications. Efforts should be made to reduce the number of unnecessary cesarean deliveries.