Emergency peripartum hysterectomy at Jordan University hospital - a teaching hospital experience

Introduction: Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) is a foremost operation and is perpetually implemented in the presence of life intimidating hemorrhage during or immediately after abdominal or vaginal deliveries. The aim of this study was to review cases managed at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Jordan University Hospital (JUH).

Material and methods: All women who underwent EPH due to any cause in the period from January 2010, to December 2017 were included in the study. Data were collected retrospectively using the patients' files namelessly. Main measures: age, gravidity, parity, number of previous cesarean sections, previous uterine surgeries, indication for hysterectomy, complications, antepartum bleeding and the need for blood transfusion.

Results: In total, 74 cases of EPH were managed during the study period. The incidence of EPH ranged from 0.24 to 8.7 per 1000 deliveries. EPH was found to be more common following cesarean sections than vaginal deliveries. The prime indication was abnormal placentation, uterine atony, and uterine rupture. The risk factors included previous cesarean sections, scarred uteruses, multiparity, older age group. Maternal morbidity ranged from 26.5 to 31.5% and mortality from 0 to 12.5% with a mean of 4.8%.

Conclusions: EPH is the most demanding obstetric surgery performed in very tiresome circumstances of life threatening hemorrhage. The indication for EPH in recent years has changed from outdated uterine atony to abnormal placentation. Antenatal eagerness of the risk factors, engrossment of proficient obstetricians at an early stage of management and a prompt hysterectomy after adequate resuscitation would go a long way in tumbling morbidity and mortality.