title: Placenta percreta-induced uterine rupture diagnosed by laparoscopy in the first trimester.
abstract: Spontaneous uterine rupture is lethal in pregnant women. Placenta percreta-induced spontaneous uterine rupture in the first trimester is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose. A 35-year-old pregnant woman, with a history of 2 vaginal deliveries and 2 spontaneous abortions treated by dilatation and curettage, was admitted to the emergency department because of sudden severe abdominal pain; the gestational age as calculated by sonography was 14 weeks. Diagnostic laparoscopy was considered for surgical abdomen and fluid collection that was noted in sonography. During laparoscopy, uterine rupture with massive bleeding was detected; therefore, total abdominal hysterectomy was performed. The patient was discharged without any complications. Pathological analysis of the uterine specimen revealed placenta percreta to be the cause of the rupture. Uterine rupture should be considered in the differential diagnosis in all pregnant women who present with acute abdomen, show fluid collection in the peritoneal cavity. In addition, we recommend laparoscopy for the investigation of acute abdomen with unclear diagnosis in the first trimester of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Gyu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Gui Se Ra
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joo Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sung Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010921:Placenta Accreta; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D014597:Uterine Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery