title: A prospective surveillance of ruptured uterus in a rural tertiary health facility in northwest Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency, cause and management outcome of ruptured uterus at a rural tertiary hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional study which utilized a prospective surveillance of all cases of ruptured uterus that presented to the hospital from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frequency: Over the study period there were 3001 deliveries and 44 cases of ruptured uterus; however, three died before surgery and 41 cases had exploratory laparatomy giving a prevalence of 14.7/1000 deliveries or 1 in 68 deliveries. Their ages ranged from 18 to 45 with a mean of 28.3 ± 6.6 years and parity varied between 1 and 13 with majority (62.7%) being grand multiparous. Twenty-five (61.0%) lived over 50 km away from the hospital. Causes: Prolonged/obstructed labour accounted for 33 (80.5%) cases, 23 (56.1%) had previous caesarean sections, while injudicious use of oxytocin was observed in 17 (41.5%). Management outcome: All the women who had surgery survived but 16 (39.0%) had anaemia, 10 (24.4%) had wound infection, three (7.3%) developed burst abdomen and 11 (26.8%) had prolonged hospital stay. There were 40 (97.5%) stillbirths of which 25 (61.0%) were fresh.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of ruptured uterus is high especially among women with prolonged/obstructed labour and previous caesarean section with associated high perinatal mortality.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre , BirninKudu , Nigeria .
authors: Adewale Olufemi
authors: AO
authors: Ashimi
authors: Abiodun
authors: A
authors: Omole-Ohonsi
authors: Ajuluchukwu Emmanuel
authors: AE
authors: Ugwa
authors: Taiwo Gboluwaga
authors: TG
authors: Amole
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014597:Uterine Rupture / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Access; emergency obstetric care; maternal mortality; obstetric haemorrhage