PARAVAGINAL AND RETROPERITONEAL HAEMATOMA POST PARTUM

Abstract

Background. Postpartum haemorrhage from ruptured tissues can usually be diagnosed and managed properly. A problem exists with the occult haemorrhage without evident tissue trauma in which case a haematoma develops. Methods. After a normal delivery of the 41 years old secundipara after a previous caesarean in epidural analgesia a boy was born. Placenta was delivered spontaneously and perineal rupure sutured properly. About an hour after the delivery heavy pain was noted in the lower abdomen. Pelvic exam revealed a paravaginal haematoma and ultrasound scan coagulated and fresh blood behind the uterus. Rupture of the uterus was suspected and laparotomy revision performed. During the laparotomy there was no haemorrhage in the pelvic cavity, no uterine rupture but a large retroperitoneal haematoma extending to mesosigmoidal part of intestinum. Paravaginal heamatoma was evacuated vaginally and after half an hour the retroperitoneal haematoma diminished by 50 %. The patient received two blood transfusions. The blood loss was estimated as about 500 grams. The pulse and blood pressure were normal all the time. The laboratory values of haemoglobin was 96 g/l, haematocrit 0.30 before the operation and 93 g/l and 0.28 respectively 6 hours after. Beside anaemia the postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was dismissed from the hospital the 6th day postpartum. Conclusions. Although the laparotomy seems an excessive treatment it was the only way to exclude uterus rupture after a previous caesarean, heavy pain in the lower abdomen and blood behind the uterus noted on the ultrasound scan. In the non-urgent situation a CT scan could be performed to locate the blood accumulation and possibly exclude uterine rupture.

Keywords

• porod
• hematom
• zapleti
• krvavitev