Uterine rupture in a gravid, unscarred uterus: A case report

When advising a pregnant patient who has previously had a cesarean section about the risks of trial of labor, it is important to explain the risk of uterine rupture. Subjective symptoms of abdominal pain or objective findings of non-reassuring fetal status and loss of fetal station are often indicative of this disease process, which most commonly is caused by a defect on the uterus from the cesarean delivery. Any uterine surgical intervention (myomectomy, for example) is the leading risk factor for uterine rupture. This case report presents a patient who had no such history. However, the maternal and fetal clinical status rapidly deteriorated and required emergency cesarean delivery, at which point a complete uterine rupture was diagnosed. Low suspicion for rare occurrences such as uterine rupture in an unscarred uterus can delay diagnosis, with increased likelihood of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.