Uterine Rupture: Still a Harsh Reality!

OBJECTIVE: To determine the, incidence, etiology, management, maternal, and fetal outcome and to evaluate trends in our area and recommend preventable measures.
METHODOLOGY: This prospective study is done between Jan 2012 and Aug 2013 in Pt. J.N.M. Medical College Raipur. All the women who had ruptured uterus were included. Relevant history was taken, women were assessed, adequate intervention done, and were followed up till 6 months after discharge. RESULT: A total number of deliveries were 11,323. Out of 11,323 deliveries, 9,844 women were without prior LSCS, 1,479 women were with prior LSCS. A total of 40 cases of rupture uterus were there 25 in women with prior LSCS and 15 in women without LSCS. Thus, incidence among women with prior LSCS was 1.69 % and for women without LSCS was 0.152 %. Overall incidence of uterine rupture was 0.35 %. Major risk factors found were unbooked status (92.5 %), injudicious use of oxytocin (52.5 %), and unjustified VBAC trial (44 %). Bladder injury was found in 20 %. Extension to cervix was found commonly in uterus with no previous section (46.66 %). Blood transfusion was required in 92.5 %. Perinatal mortality was 85%. Only one maternal death was there (2.5%).
CONCLUSION: Developed countries have incidence of uterine rupture 0.000 % in women without LSCS and 1 % in women with prior LSCS[1]. Thus, by directly comparing, our study of 20 month revealed that women stand 1,500 times higher risk for rupture even without previous cesarean section and 1.7 times in women with previous section in comparison to the developed countries. The overall burden of women with previous section being admitted for delivery is 12.28 %. 62.50 % women who had rupture uterus were those with previous section. Thus, careful selection of these women for trial of labor and a compulsory institutional delivery is recommended. We recommend use of oxytocin in titrated dose which clearly indicated by an obstetrician only, and it should be a prescription drug strictly.