Unattended uterine prolapse during pregnancy in a low-income setting: a case report

Uterine prolapse (UP) is rare during pregnancy. It sometimes leads to serious complications such as abortion, preterm labor, and maternal death. The main risk factor for UP is previous vaginal childbirth and is usually managed conservatively. However, surgery should be considered in cases of unavailability or failure of conservative approaches.

A 34-year-old Gravid4Para3 pregnant woman in the 33rd week of gestation presented with refractory vaginal pain. She had a remarkable history of second-degree UP. Upon presentation, the anterior and posterior cervical lips were swollen, bluish, and protruding through the vagina. Considering the severe pain, the alarming examination findings, and the impossibility of pushing back the protruding mass, a total vaginal hysterectomy was performed. The postoperative pathological study revealed a massive hemorrhage with edematous changes in the vaginal cuff and cervical mucosa in addition to features of placenta accreta, placenta previa, and placenta abruption.

UP is a rare but potentially serious condition, especially if it is related to pregnancy. Moreover, managing UP could be challenging in low-income settings, where even simple conservative methods might be unavailable or financially unattainable.