• Hon C Cheng, Anita Pelecanos, and Renuka Sekar.
• Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
• Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2016 Dec 1; 56 (6): 614-618.

BackgroundPeripartum hysterectomy is commonly performed for catastrophic postpartum haemorrhage uncontrolled by conservative medical and surgical therapies. Currently, information about the incidence and indications for peripartum hysterectomy are not well defined in Australia.AimsEvaluate the incidence and indications of peripartum hysterectomy in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) between 2000 and 2014.Materials And MethodsA 15-year retrospective cohort study of peripartum hysterectomies at RBWH was conducted. The incidence of this event was calculated. Risk factors for abnormal placentation were explored using univariate analyses. Statistical significance was declared at α < 0.05.ResultsA total of 83 cases of peripartum hysterectomy were reviewed. The incidence of peripartum hysterectomy was 0.60 per 1000 births after discounting the 44 (53%) cases of peripheral regional hospital referrals. Abnormal placentation and uterine atony constituted the majority of the indications for peripartum hysterectomy. Abnormal placentation included placenta praevia, accrete, increta and percreta. In this cohort with peripartum hysterectomy, previous caesarean section was strongly associated with abnormal placentation (P < 0.001, OR 11.4, 95% CI 3.6-35.8). No maternal mortality was recorded, although 63% of patients encountered complications. A planned peripartum hysterectomy resulted in significantly fewer red blood cell (P = 0.011) and platelet transfusions (P = 0.001).ConclusionsThe incidence of peripartum hysterectomy recorded in our tertiary institution between 2000 and 2014 is 0.60 per 1000 births. Abnormal placentation is the commonest indication leading to severe postpartum haemorrhage requiring peripartum hysterectomy.© 2016 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

29 keywords...

hide…