Repair of uterine rupture following vaginal delivery: A comparison between minimally invasive and open repair

Abstract

Objective: To compare operative data and patient satisfaction between open and laparoscopic surgery for postpartum-diagnosed uterine rupture.

Methods: In this questionnaire-based cohort study, the authors collected all cases of postpartum-diagnosed uterine rupture after vaginal delivery between 2016 and 2020 in a single academic tertiary center. The cohort was divided according to surgical method of repair, and demographic, clinical, operative and postoperative data were collected and compared between groups. A phone questionnaire on various satisfaction domains was conducted and satisfaction rates were compared between groups.

Results: Eight cases of uterine rupture following vaginal delivery were treated by laparoscopy and eight were treated by laparotomy. The median operative time was 103 min (interquartile range [IQR], 86.3-129.0 min) for the laparoscopy group and 61 min (IQR, 59.0-75.0 min) for the laparotomy group (P = 0.04). Blood transfusion was required in 25% of women who underwent laparoscopy, as compared with 88% of women who underwent laparotomy (P = 0.01 < 0.05). Median hospitalization time was 3 days (IQR, 3-4 days) in the laparoscopy group and 4 days (IQR, 4-4 days) in the laparotomy group (P = 0.2). Overall satisfaction, satisfaction from recovery, satisfaction from scars, satisfaction from ability to care for the neonate, and postoperative pain and mood were all improved in the laparoscopy group, as compared with the laparotomy group.

Conclusion: Minimally invasive surgery is a viable surgical option for patients with uterine rupture diagnosed after vaginal delivery and may result in better patient recovery and satisfaction.

Keywords: laparoscopy; laparotomy; uterine rupture.