Uterine Rupture - Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain and tenderness. The pain may not be severe; it may occur suddenly at the peak of a contraction. The woman may describe a feeling that something "gave way" or "ripped."
  • Chest pain, pain between the scapulae, or pain on inspiration—Pain occurs because of the irritation of blood below the woman's diphragm
  • Hypovolemic shock caused by hemorrhage—Falling blood pressure, tachycardia, tachypnea, pallor, cool and clammy skin, and anxiety. The fall in blood pressure is often a late sign of hemorrhage
  • Signs associated with fetal oxygenation, such as late decelerations, reduced viability, tachycardia, and bradycardia
  • Absent fetal heart sounds with a large disruption of the placenta; absent fetal heart activity by ultrasound examination
  • Cessation of uterine contractions
  • Palpition of the fetus outside the uterus (usually occurs only with a large, complete rupture). The fetus is likely to be dead

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