The association between acute lower abdominal pain over a previous caesarean scar and uterine rupture

Abstract

Pregnant women with previous caesarean delivery might suffer from acute lower abdominal pain located at the site of previous caesarean scar (CS). The association between this complaint and uterine rupture (UR) is not fully understood. Therefore, we aimed to examine the risk of UR in women with acute persistent abdominal pain (APAP) over a previous CS and to investigate all the women with UR, with or without APAP and with or without previous CS, in order to determine risk factors, clinical presentation and management. We performed a retrospective analysis on two study groups: women who had APAP over previous CS and women who had UR. We found an incidence of UR in patients with APAP over the previous CS was 0.7%; which doubled the total UR rate among women with previous caesarean in our medical centre (0.35%). Forty percent of the women with APAP over a previous CS had preterm delivery. Twenty percent of the cases of UR occurred in preterm weeks. To conclude, APAP over a previous CS is associated with a doubled risk of UR. Considering this symptom as a preliminary sign of UR might lead to elevated rate of iatrogenic preterm deliveries.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? Women with UR may present with abdominal pain which may vary from non-specific mild discomfort to severe acute abdominal pain. Additionally, these women may suffer from acute persistent abdominal pain (APAP) located over the previous caesarean scar. The clinical significance of APAP in these women has not been fully investigated.

• What do the results of this study add? Lower abdominal pain located at the site of previous CS is associated with a doubled risk of UR. Considering this complaint as a major sign of UR might lead to an elevated rate of iatrogenic preterm deliveries.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further studies are needed to explore whether women with a single complaint of APAP over CS could be managed expectantly and even offered a trial of labour after caesarean delivery (CD).

Keywords:

• Obstetrics
• caesarean section
• labour management
• uterine rupture
• abdominal pain

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).