What not to expect when you're expecting - Postpartum proximal ureteric rupture: A case report
Anna Rikard-Bell1, Kathleen Lockhart1, David Malouf1
1St George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
Introduction:
Spontaneous ureteric rupture is an extremely rare cause of acute abdominal pain in the intrapartum and postpartum period. We present the case of a right ureteric rupture diagnosed immediately postpartum.
Case:
A 23-year-old woman in her second pregnancy (who had had a previous caesarean section) developed acute-onset right-flank pain 12 h after vaginal delivery. A contrast computerized tomography scan suggested a ureteric injury; ureteroscopy diagnosed a proximal ureteric rupture and a stent was placed.
Discussion:
This case outlines an extremely rare cause of abdominal pain in the peripartum. There can be serious complications, including urinoma, abscess and sepsis, and therefore the diagnosis should not be delayed.
