Spontaneous uterine laceration in labor: a type of intrapartum uterine injury different from the classical uterine rupture

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018 Feb;31(3):401-403. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2017.1284790. Epub 2017 Feb 14.

Abstract

Uterine rupture, a complete disruption of uterine wall, is synonymously used of intrapartum uterine corpus injuries. However, uterine laceration, partial and minor myometrial tear, is not well characterized. A 35-year-old Japanese woman with unscarred uterus was delivered of a baby at 38 gestational weeks. Shortly after delivering the placenta, she complained of severe lower abdominal pain with shock vitals. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a partial and shallow myometrial and serosal tear with massive hemoperitoneum. Despite its shallow and minor nature of the injury, uterine laceration can cause a catastrophic massive hemoperitoneum and should be noted as a type of intrapartum uterine injury in clinical practice.

Keywords: Uterine rupture; hemoperitoneum; inner myometrial laceration; postpartum hemorrhage.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Hemoperitoneum / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemoperitoneum / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Lacerations / pathology*
  • Uterine Rupture / diagnosis*
  • Uterus / injuries*
  • Uterus / pathology