Spontaneous rupture of a uterine vein during labor.

Spontaneous rupture of a utero-ovarian vein during pregnancy is a serious complication that is likely to be misdiagnosed because of its rarity. In this report, a 23-year-old multiparous woman, 39 weeks pregnant, with a history of a previous salpingo-oophorectomy, had symptoms suggestive of a massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage. At exploratory laparotomy she was found to have a torn uterine varix. A 5 lb boy was delivered by cesarean section. Mother and son survived.