[Uterine necrosis following pelvic arterial embolisation for postpartum haemorrhage: case report]

We report a case of uterine necrosis in a 38 year-old patient, who underwent a caesarean section for placenta praevia and an embolisation of the uterine arteries for postpartum haemorrhage. The pelvic embolisation was performed with absorbable gelatine sponge pledgets. This woman presented with abdominal pain and fever three weeks after delivery and a computed tomography scan revealed the presence of gas in the myometrium and endometrium and allowed the diagnosis of uterine necrosis. A total abdominal hysterectomy was performed with adnexal conservation and the diagnosis of uterine necrosis was confirmed histologically. The complications of pelvic embolization and the risks of surgical procedures for the management of intractable obstetric hemorrhage are described.