Emergency hysterectomy in obstetric practice: five year review.

From January 1980 to December 1984, there were 86,483 deliveries and 25 emergency obstetric hysterectomies at the Maternity Hospital, Kuwait. The indications for hysterectomy were placental disorders (64%), uterine rupture (28%), and extension of the lower uterine scar during cesarean section (8%). The incidence of emergency hysterectomy increased with age and parity. Postoperative morbidity was higher with subtotal than with total hysterectomy. The commonest post-operative complication was urinary tract infection. There was one maternal death from consumptive coagulopathy associated with intra-uterine fetal death.