Prelabor third-trimester uterine rupture in an unscarred uterus with occlusion by fetal small parts: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Rupture of an unscarred uterus is a rare and potentially catastrophic event. Common presenting signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, fetal heart rate abnormalities, and evidence of hypovolemia.

CASE

A woman with a history of 2 prior uncomplicated first-trimester pregnancy terminations presented several years later at 32 weeks' gestation with abdominal pain and no other evidence of uterine rupture. Her clinicians suspected appendicitis, and computed tomography revealed a circular fundal uterine rupture occluded by extrusion of the fetal legs through the defect. Emergent cesarean delivery resulted in a good outcome for mother and baby.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should consider uterine rupture as a possible diagnosis when patients present with abdominal pain, even without common risk factors linical evidence of a ruptured uterus.