A seven-year review of emergency peripartum hysterectomy in a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) is surgical removal of the uterus during childbirth or within its immediate 24 hours, a lifesaving procedure done as the last resort to control obstetric haemorrhage.

Objectives: To determine the incidence, indications, and complications of peripartum hysterectomy.

Methods: The study is a retrospective review of emergency peripartum hysterectomies performed at the Centre from 1^st January, 2015 to 31^st December, 2021. The patients’ case folders were retrieved from the medical records department and relevant information obtained using a structured data extraction format. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Means, frequency, and percentages were used to present the significance of the results.

Results: A total of 46 EPH were performed between January 2015 and December 2021 out of 20,832 deliveries within the same period, giving an incidence of 0.22% (2.2 per thousand deliveries). Indications were uterine rupture (78.2%), uterine atony (10.9%), abruptio placentae (4.3%), placenta previa (4.3%) and placenta accreta spectrum (2.2%). Subtotal hysterectomy was performed in most cases (39/46; 84.8%). The most common complication was intraoperative haemorrhage requiring blood transfusion (100%). Other complications included severe post-operative anaemia, wound sepsis, paralytic ileus and enterocutaneous fistula. The maternal case fatality was 4 (8.7%) and all the mortality cases were unbooked patients.

Conclusion: The incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy is relatively low in our study and uterine rupture is the most common indication. EPH is associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality, and this is related to booking status. Hence, enlightening women on antenatal care and hospital delivery will help in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality.