title: The incarcerated gravid uterus: complications and lessons learned.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incarcerated uterus is a rare but serious complication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two women presented with second trimester urinary retention. Neither received a pelvic examination at presentation, which led to a delay in diagnosing the incarcerated uterus. Patient 1 had development of acute renal failure, hypertension, and edema. After uterine reduction there was rapid normalization of renal function, hypertension, and edema, but spontaneous rupture of membranes and intrauterine death occurred 12 hours later. Patient 2 had reduction under anesthetic and subsequently underwent cesarean delivery at term. However, at 7 months postpartum, the patient continued to have high postvoid residual volumes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women presenting with urinary retention in the second trimester should have a pelvic examination performed to exclude uterine incarceration. Earlier recognition and appropriate treatment may have altered the outcome for the two patients presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, and School Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: Joanna F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Crofts
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology*; D060725:Uterine Retroversion / Q000150:complications*