title: Conservative surgery for uterine incisional necrosis complicating cesarean delivery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hysterectomy is the usual management of uterine incisional necrosis with dehiscence as a complication of cesarean delivery. Debridement with resuture of the uterine wound as an alternative therapy would conserve fertility at the risk of continued necrosis and infection. Unfortunately the literature provides few guidelines in deciding when to select conservative surgery and whether it is a safe option.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cases are presented with uterine incisional necrosis complicating cesarean delivery. In 2 instances, uterine conservation was considered an acceptable option and was successfully completed. The third patient underwent hysterectomy because of clinical features deemed to be contraindications to conservative surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In well-selected patients, debridement and resuture of the uterine incision is an acceptable alternative to hysterectomy for uterine incisional necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505, USA. calford@ob-gyn.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: Michel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rivlin
authors.forename: C Shannon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D009336:Necrosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014599:Uterus / Q000601:surgery*