Emergency embolization of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after cesarean section

Kondrashin S.A., Koblikov V.V., Kovalev M.I.

1) I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; 2) Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia

Relevance: Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare and potentially life-threatening pathology of the arterial system. It can occur due to the damage to tissues during complicated vaginal delivery or cesarean section, uterine surgery, adnexal surgery (myomectomy, hysterectomy, metroplasty, cervicoplasty, perforation of the uterus during curettage or during diagnostic manipulations, removal of various tumors in the pelvic area, and others). This may be a rare cause of delayed postpartum hemorrhage in 3–6 cases per 1000 births.
Case report: A 25-year-old primigravida underwent an emergency cesarean section in the lower uterine segment due to an acute intrauterine fetal hypoxia at 40–41 weeks gestation. On the 4th day after surgery, she complained of an increase in body temperature to 37.5°C, nagging pains in the left iliac region. Doppler ultrasound imaging of the pelvic area to the left of the uterus revealed a pathological vascular formation in the parametrium. An emergency angiography of the pelvic vessels was performed, it was followed by embolization with two coils of the branches of the uterine artery feeding the pseudoaneurysm. Seven years after the operative delivery and embolization, the patient became pregnant and had a planned cesarean section at 40 weeks gestation without complications.
Conclusion: The first diagnostic method in an emergency situation is Doppler sonography. The method of choice in the treatment of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm is embolization of the feeding artery (provided there are conditions for such an operation).

Authors’ contributions: Kondrashin S.A., Kovalev M.I. – developing the concept and design of the study; Koblikov V.V. – collecting and processing the material; Kondrashin S.A., Koblikov V.V. – writing the text; Kondrashin S.A., Kovalev M.I. – editing the text.
Conflicts of interest: Authors declare lack of the possible conflicts of interests.
Funding: The study was conducted without sponsorship.
Ethical Approval: The study was approved by the Ethical Review Board of I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University).
Patient Consent for Publication: The patient provided an informed consent for the publication of her data and associated images.
For citation: Kondrashin S.A., Koblikov V.V., Kovalev M.I. 
Emergency embolization of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after cesarean section.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023; (12): 213-218 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.116

Keywords

caesarean section
uterine artery pseudoaneurysm
Doppler sonography
uterine artery embolization
coils
long-term results

References

  1. Wu C.Q., Nayeemuddin M., Rattray D. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm with an anastomotic feeding vessel requiring repeat embolization. BMJ Case Rep. 2018; 2018: bcr2018224656. https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2018-224656.
  2. Baba Y., Takahashi H., Ohkuchi A., Suzuki H., Kuwata T., Usui R. et al. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm: its occurrence after non-traumatic events, and possibility of "without embolization" strategy. Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 2016; 205: 72-8. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.08.005.
  3. Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics. Practice Bulletin No. 183: Postpartum Hemorrhage. Obstet. Gynecol. 2017;130(4):e168-e186. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002351.
  4. Jennings L., Presley B., Krywko D. Uterine Artery Pseudoaneurysm: A life-threatening cause of vaginal bleeding in the Emergency Department. J. Emerg. Med. 2019; 56(3): 327-31. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2018.12.016.
  5. Böckenhoff P., Kupczyk P., Lindner K., Strizek B., Gembruch U. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery: a case report. Clin. Pract. 2022; 12(5): 826-31. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/clinpract12050087.
  6. Yeniel A.O., Ergenoglu A.M., Akdemir A., Eminov E., Akercan F., Karadadaş N. Massive secondary postpartum hemorrhage with uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after cesarean section. Case Rep. Obstet. Gynecol. 2013; 2013: 285846. https://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/285846.
  7. Pohlan J., Hinkson L., Wickmann U., Henrich W., Althoff C.E. Pseudo aneurysm of the uterine artery with arteriovenous fistula after cesarean section: A rare but sinister cause of delayed postpartum hemorrhage. J. Clin. Ultrasound. 2021;49(3):265-8. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcu.22890.
  8. Brown B.J., Heaston D.K., Poulson A.M., Gabert H.A., Mineau D.E., Miller F.J.Jr. Uncontrollable postpartum bleeding: a new approach to hemostasis through angiographic arterial embolization. Obstet. Gynecol. 1979; 54(3): 361-5.
  9. Гаврилов С.Г., Масленников М.А., Москаленко Е.П., Кирсанов К.В., Юмин С.М., Гришин В.В. Случай успешного лечения ложной аневризмы левой маточной артерии с артериовенозной фистулой и варикозной трансформацией тазовых вен. Анналы хирургии. 2015; 6: 45-8. [Gavrilov S.G., Maslennikov M.A., Moskalenko E.P., Kirsanov K.V., Yumin S.M., Grishin V.V. Succesful treatment of false aneurysm of the left uterine artery with arteriovenous fistula and pelvic varicose transformation of veins. Annals of Surgery. 2015; 6: 45-8 (in Russian)].
  10. Wu T., Lin B., Li K., Ye J., Wu R. Diagnosis and treatment of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm: case series and literature review. Medicine. 2021;100(51): e28093. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000028093.
  11. Chainarong N., Deevongkij K., Petpichetchian C. Secondary postpartum hemorrhage: Incidence, etiologies, and clinical courses in the setting of a high cesarean delivery rate. PLoS One. 2022; 17(3): e0264583. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264583.
  12. Kim B.M., Jeon G.S., Choi M.J., Hong N.S. Usefulness of transcatheter arterial embolization for eighty-three patients with secondary postpartum hemorrhage: Focusing on difference in angiographic findings. World J. Clin. Cases. 2023; 11(15): 3471-80. https://dx.doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v11.i15.3471.
  13. Квашин А.И., Мельник А.В., Шарифулин М.А. Эндоваскулярная коррекция псевдоаневризмы правой маточной артерии. Клинический случай Международный журнал интервенционной кардиоангиологии. 2010; 22: 42-4. [Kvashin A.I., Melnik A.V., Sharifulin M.A. Endovascular correction of pseudoaneurysm of the right uterine artery. Clinical Case. International Journal of Interventional Cardioangiology. 2010; 22: 42-4 (in Russian)].
  14. Gupta A., Durairaj J., Nayak D. Successful pregnancies after embolization for uterine artery pseudoaneurysm: a report of two cases. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. India. 2021; 71(1): 88-90. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13224-020-01365-x.

Received 10.05.2023

Accepted 04.12.2023

About the Authors

Sergey A. Kondrashin, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Professor of the Department of Radiation Diagnostics and Radiation Therapy of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), 119991, Russian Federation, Moscow, Trubetskaya str., 8-2; Leading Researcher at the Department of X-ray Diagnostic, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology
and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4, +7(495)609-14-00, kondrashin_s_a@staff.sechenov.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3492-9446
Vasiliy V. Koblikov, Dr. Med. Sci., Assistant at the Department of Radiation Diagnostics and Radiation Therapy of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine,
REDT doctor at the Department of X-ray surgical methods of diagnosis and treatment of University Clinical Hospital No. 1, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), https://orcid.org/ 0000-0002-9661-8686
Mikhail I. Kovalev, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 1 of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine,
I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), https://orcid.org/ 0000-0002-0426-587X
Corresponding author: Sergey A. Kondrashin, kondrashin_s_a@staff.sechenov.ru

Similar Articles

By continuing to use our site, you consent to the processing of cookies that ensure the proper functioning of the site.