Rupture of the uterus

A rupture or tear of the muscular wall of the uterus is a rare event, but since it usually causes the placenta to separate and sometimes the baby can be expelled out of the uterus and into the peritoneal cavity, it is always an obstetrical emergency that requires delivery of the baby within minutes. A rupture of the uterus is usually associated with a Vaginal Birth after C-section (VBAC) which has been used by many obstetricians and hospitals as a way to reduce the overall rate of c-sections in the U.S. Although the incidence of a ruptured uterus during a VBAC is less than 2%, when it does occur, and if the baby is not delivered in 10 minutes of less, the resulting injury to the baby can be catastrophic. In the last few years, most hospitals that still perform VBAC’s require that both an obstetrician and an anesthesiologist be in the hospital, so that they can respond quickly to any rupture and deliver the baby before any significant injury.

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