[Acute abdomen secondary to spontaneous uterine rupture associated with pyometra]

A 71-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic use of corticosteroids presented to the emergency room with 2 weeks of urinary symptoms, abdominal pain and a mass located in hypo-mesogastrium and both flanks. An X-ray film of the abdomen showed that bowels were displaced by the mass. Laboratory studies showed thrombocytosis (549,000/mm(3)) and leukocytosis (41,800/mm(3)). Several hours after her arrival the patient developed acute abdomen and surgery was indicated. A urinary catheter drained 2100 ml of urine and the abdominal mass was reduced in size but did not disappear. Surgery demonstrated that the urinary bladder covered the fundus and the anterior face of the uterus, where extensive necrosis and a 3-cm perforation were found; 400 ml of foul-smelling pus was drained from the uterine cavity. Due to necrosis, a hysterectomy was performed. The histopathological report indicated necrosis, atrophic cervicitis and endometritis; pus culture developed Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris. Despite administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the patient developed severe sepsis and died 11 days postoperatively. During a literature review, only one similar case was found. Acute abdomen due to uterine perforation secondary to pyometra and associated with chronic use of corticosteroids is a rare complication.