[Uterine vessels spontaneous rupture during pregnancy: case report and literature review]

Abstract

The spontaneous rupture of the uterine vessels during pregnancy is a potentially lethal complication that usually is not suspected as cause of acute abdomen in pregnancy. The clinical presentation is often sudden abdominal pain, accompanied by signs of hypovolemic shock and reduction in hemoglobin levels. The case of a 23-year-old woman at 22 weeks of gestation with acute abdomen is reported, without traumatic antecedents, and signs of hypovolemic shock. During exploratory laparotomy as hemoperitoneum cause, a laceration in the right uterine artery was found. Bleeding vessel was repaired to continue with pregnancy until 38 weeks of gestation.