title: Uterine Arteriovenous Malformation: Case Series and Literature Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uterine AV malformation is a rare cause of torrential post-abortal hemorrhage, which can present with varying grades of severity. Diagnosis requires a high degree of suspicion and is done with ultrasound and Doppler.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our institution, during the period 2008-2013, five cases of symptomatic uterine AVMs have been reported. All of them were in the reproductive age group (22-36 years), presenting with a history of miscarriage or termination of pregnancy for which curettage was done. The presentation was with recurrent bouts of torrential bleeding, some triggered by second curettage, and not controllable with regular measures. Diagnosis was by ultrasound-gray scale, color Doppler, and spectral Doppler. The time interval between the onset of symptoms and the primary curettage was 8-89 days; four patients underwent selective arterial embolization, and one patient opted for hysterectomy. On follow-up, all the four patients are presently free of symptoms; two of them conceived within 2 years of the procedure and carried the pregnancy to term-one resulting in a live-birth and the other intrauterine death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uterine AV malformation should be thought of as a differential diagnosis in all cases presenting with bleeding after miscarriage or curettage, since diagnosis is simple and treatment by selective arterial embolization saves morbidity of surgery and anesthesia, and more importantly reduces hospital stay and the absence from work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore, 641004 India.
authors.forename: Narayanan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lalitha
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore, 641004 India.
authors.forename: Panicker
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seetha
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore, 641004 India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shanmugasundaram
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore, 641004 India.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rajendiran
keywords: Arteriovenous malformation; Gelfoam; Uterine artery embolization; Vascular malformations