ISSN-0303-5212
  The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
Rawalpindi - Islamabad
 
     
Volume 34, Number 1, Jan - June 2009
     
 
Original article
 
Emergency obstetric hysterectomy: a review of 69 cases
 
Nusrat Shah, Nusrat H Khan
 
Objective

To determine the frequency, indications, types and outcomes of emergency obstetric hysterectomy.

Method

This retrospective review was undertaken in the Department of obstetrics and Gynecology Unit III of Civil Hospital Karachi from July 2002 to December 2007. Data regarding frequency of hysterectomy, maternal age, parity, causes of hemorrhage, type of hysterectomy and its complications, was retrieved from yearly maintained Registers / proformas of obstetrical hysterectomy and analyzed by computer software, SPSS version 13.

Results

Total number of deliveries during the study period was 10,127 and 69 emergency obstetric hysterectomies were undertaken; frequency being 0.68% (1 in 150 deliveries). Only 16% of women were booked. The three most common causes were ruptured uterus in 24 women (35%), uterine atony in 16 women (23%) and morbidly adherent placenta in 14 women (20%). Total hysterectomy was undertaken in 65% of women and subtotal in 35%. Thirteen women died; with mortality of 19%. Morbidity related to type of hysterectomy was not significantly different except for risk of salpingo-oophorectomy (20% for total compared to 12.5% for subtotal)

Conclusions

Emergency obstetric hysterectomy, although a frequent life saving operation, was associated with significant maternal mortality, mostly due to the effects of massive hemorrhage. The most frequent indication was ruptured uterus followed by uterine atony and morbidly adherent placenta. (Rawal Med J 2009; 34: 75-78).
 
Key Words: Emergency obstetric hysterectomy, Peripartum hysterectomy, postpartum hemorrhage.
 
 
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