Silent abnormal placentation linkage to peripartum hysterectomy: Thammasat University Hospital 6-year study

To determine the prevalence, indications, types and complications of peripartum hysterectomy at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand.

A retrospective peripartum hysterectomy (PH) study. Data came from parturient who delivered at Thammasat University Hospital, Pathumthani, Thailand between January 2007 and December 2012.

In the period of 6 years, there were 37 cases of PH among 28,023 parturient. The overall prevalence of PH was 1.32 per 1,000 deliveries with average parturientage of 30. Nineteen hysterectomies were performed after vaginal delivery (1.1/1,000) and the remaining 18 hysterectomies were performed after cesarean section (1.67/1,000). Seven cases (18.9%) were performed as subtotal and the remaining 30 cases (81.1%) as total hysterectomy Major indication of PH was uterine atony (75.7%, 28/37) followed by abnormal placentation (10.8%, 4/37) and uterine rupture (5.4%, 2/37). From hysterectomy specimens, placenta accreta, placenta increta and placenta percreta were found in 5, 3, and 3 cases, respectively. Two cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were later discovered from hysterectomy specimens. Three cases of placentapercreta were associated with pre-operative diagnosis of placenta adherent, uterine rupture and placenta previa. The average estimated blood loss was 2,416 ml. The overall surgical complication rate was 35.1% (13/37). The rate of reoperation, maternal death, wound infection, gut obstruction and lung complications were 16.2, 8.1, 2.7, 2.7 and 2.7 percent, respectively.

Peripartum hysterectomy is a major hazardous procedure carrying a high mortality and morbidity rate. In this study, maternal mortality was 8.1%. Silent abnormal placentation was found in 21.2 percent (7/33) of hysterectomy specimen.