Uterine inversion

Uterine inversion is a rare and serious obstetric emergency in which the uterus turns inside out, usually following childbirth. Symptoms include postpartum bleeding, abdominal pain, a mass in the vagina, and low blood pressure. Rarely inversion may occur not in association with pregnancy. Risk factors include pulling on the umbilical cord or pushing on the top of the uterus before the placenta has detached. Other risk factors include uterine atony, placenta previa, and connective tissue disorders. Diagnosis is by seeing the inside of the uterus either in or coming out of the vagina. Treatment involves standard resuscitation together with replacing the uterus as rapidly as possible. If efforts at manual replacement are not successful surgery is required. After the uterus is replaced oxytocin and antibiotics are typically recommended. The placenta can then be removed if it is still attached. Uterine inversion occurs in about 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 10,000 deliveries. Rates are higher in the developing world. The risk of death of the mother is about 15% while historically it has been as high as 80%. The condition has been described since at least 300 BC by Hippocrates.