A uterocutaneous fistula is an abnormal tract between the endometrium of the uterus and the skin. It is a rare but significant postcesarean section complication. This is a case of a 39-year-old female who presented with cyclical bleeding from her cesarean section scar during menstruation over the past 4 years. The assessment revealed a discharging sinus in the scar and an acutely anteverted, fixed uterus. Symptoms persisted despite medical treatment for the provisional diagnosis of endometriosis. The diagnosis was updated as uterocutaneous fistula based on a computed tomography scan of the pelvis and abdomen and a hysterosalpingogram. The fistula was surgically excised, and a hysterectomy was performed. This report elaborates on the rare presentation, diagnosis, and definitive surgical management. The surgical management resulted in a successful resolution, highlighting the importance of choosing the appropriate treatment modality while adhering to a patient-centered approach.
Cesarean Section

A 40-year-old, gravida 3 para 2 (1-1-0-2), previous primary cesarean section for nonreassuring fetal status, presented at a tertiary hospital for confirmation of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP). Transvaginal ultrasound confirmed a CSP at 8 2/7 weeks age of gestation with good embryonic cardiac activity, raising concern for early placenta accreta spectrum. A multidisciplinary team composed of an obstetrician, advanced pelvic surgeon, urologist, and anesthesiologist managed the patient. The patient underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy, as the patient has a completed family size. Before the procedure, she was given cefuroxime as prophylactic antibiotic. Intraoperatively, there were dense adhesions between the posterior bladder wall and the previous cesarean section scar. Inadvertent injury to the bladder wall was incurred during adhesiolysis. Cystorrhaphy was done by a urologist, while the rest of the surgery was unremarkable, with a 450 ml estimated blood loss. The postoperative course was unremarkable. Bladder rest was achieved by maintaining an indwelling Foley catheter, which remained in place upon discharge on postoperative day 3 and was continued for 7 days thereafter. At follow-up, a successful voiding trial was conducted, confirming the return of normal bladder function.

Human ; Female ; Adult: 25-44 Yrs Old ; Cesarean Section ; Salpingectomy ; Hysterectomy ; Fetal Distress ; Placenta Accreta ; Cefuroxime ; Catheters ; Cicatrix

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatments and fertility recovery of rudimentary horn pregnancy (RHP). Methods: The clinical data of 12 cases with RHP diagnosed and treated in Peking University Third Hospital from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical informations, diagnosis and treatments of RHP and the pregnancy status after surgery were analyzed. Results: The median age of 12 RHP patients was 29 years (range: 24-37 years). Eight cases of pregnancy in residual horn of uterus occurred in type Ⅰ residual horn of uterus, 4 cases occurred in type Ⅱ residual horn of uterus; among which 5 cases were misdiagnosed by ultrasound before surgery. All patients underwent excision of residual horn of uterus and affected salpingectomy. After surgery, 9 patients expected future pregnancy, and 3 cases of natural pregnancy, 2 cases of successful pregnancy through assisted reproductive technology. Four pregnancies resulted in live birth with cesarean section, and 1 case resulted in spontaneous abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. No uterine rupture or ectopic pregnancy occurred in subsequent pregnancies. Conclusions: Ultrasonography could aid early diagnosis of RHP while misdiagnosis occurred in certain cases. Thus, a comprehensive judgment and decision ought to be made based on medical history, physical examination and assisted examination. Surgical exploration is necessary for diagnosis and treatment of RHP. For infertile patients, assisted reproductive technology should be applied when necessary. Caution to prevent the occurrence of pregnancy complications such as uterine rupture, and application of cesarean section to terminate pregnancy are recommended.
Pregnancy ; Humans ; Female ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Cesarean Section/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy, Ectopic/surgery* ; Pregnancy, Cornual/surgery* ; Uterus/surgery* ; Uterine Rupture/etiology* ; Abortion, Spontaneous

Pregnancy ; Humans ; Female ; Cesarean Section ; Consensus ; Trial of Labor

Ruptured Sinus of Valsalva (RSOV) is a rarely encountered cardiac anomaly that can potentially lead to adverse clinical outcomes. RSOV increases the risk of morbidity during pregnancy due to the physiological changes associated with gestation, that can exacerbate the underlying cardiac pathology. We present the case of a 29-year-old female with an uncorrected RSOV who required an emergency cesarean section for abruptio placenta. The patient underwent the procedure under spinal anesthesia, with careful titration of norepinephrine infusion and close monitoring of hemodynamic parameters using an invasive intra-arterial line. Given the absence of established anesthetic protocols for parturients with RSOV undergoing cesarean delivery, a comprehensive understanding of the complex interaction between the hemodynamic effects of RSOV, pregnancy, and anesthesia is essential. This understanding enables the safe use of spinal anesthesia in urgent situations, leading to favorable patient outcomes.
Sinus of Valsalva ; Aortic Rupture ; Cesarean Section ; Anesthesia, Spinal

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of auricular thumbtack needle on breast feeding and lactation function in primiparous women with cesarean section, and to explore its mechanism of action from the perspective of lactation-related gene expression. METHODS: One hundred cases of primiparous women with cesarean section were randomly divided into an observation group (50 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (50 cases, 2 cases were eliminated). The patients in the control group were treated with routine obstetric care. Based on the treatment of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with auricular thumbtack needle at Neifenmi (CO₁₈), Xiong (AH₁₀), Xiongzhui (AH₁₁), Shenmen (TF₄), and Jiaogan (AH_6a), etc., with one side of auricular point selected, only once for a total of 3 d. The lactation initiation time, lactation adequacy rate at postpartum 72 h, exclusive breastfeeding rate at postpartum 42 d, and breastfeeding score after treatment were compared between the two groups. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot method were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of TDP-43, Btn1A1 and XDH. RESULTS: After treatment, the lactation initiation time in the observation group was earlier than that in the control group (P<0.01), and breastfeeding score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The lactation adequacy rate at postpartum 72 h was 63.8% (30/47) in the observation group, which was higher than 41.7% (20/48) in the control group (P<0.05). The exclusive breastfeeding rate at postpartum 42 d was 72.3% (34/47) in the observation group, which was higher than 47.9% (23/48) in the control group (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of TDP-43 and Btn1A1 in breast milk in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01), while there was no statistically significant difference in mRNA and protein expression of XDH in breast milk between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The auricular thumbtack needle in addition to routine care could promote lactation initiation, improve lactation adequacy rate and exclusive breastfeeding rate in primiparous women with cesarean section, and the action mechanism may be related to up-regulation of TDP-43 and Btn1A1 expression.
Pregnancy ; Humans ; Female ; Breast Feeding ; Cesarean Section ; Lactation ; Milk, Human ; DNA-Binding Proteins

Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Placenta Accreta/surgery* ; Cesarean Section ; Retrospective Studies ; Biomarkers ; Hysterectomy ; Placenta Previa ; Placenta

This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of arctigenin(ARC) in the treatment of vascular endothelial injury in rats with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH). Fifty SD rats pregnant for 12 days were randomly assigned into a control group, a model group, an ARC group, a rapamycin(RAP, autophagy inducer) group, and an ARC+3-methyladenine(3-MA, autophagy inhibitor) group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the other groups except the control group were intraperitoneally injected with nitrosyl-L-arginine methyl ester(50 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) to establish the PIH model on the 13th day of pregnancy. On the 15th day of pregnancy, the rats in ARC, RAP, and ARC+3-MA groups were intraperitoneally injected with ARC(50 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), RAP(1 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and 3-MA(15 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1))+ARC(50 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), respectively. The pregnant rats in the control group and the model group were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of normal saline. The blood pressure and 24 h urine protein(24 h-UP) of pregnant rats in each group were measured before and after intervention. Cesarean section was performed to terminate pregnancy on day 21, and the body weight and body length of fetal rats were compared among groups. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was employed to observe the pathological changes of placenta. The expression of endothelin-1(ET-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) in placenta was detected by immunohistochemistry. The serum levels of ET-1 and nitric oxide(NO) were determined with corresponding kits. The expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3), Beclin-1, NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein with CARD domain(ASC), caspase-1, interleukin(IL)-1β, and IL-18 was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blot. The level of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in placenta was measured by fluorescence staining. The results showed that on day 12 of pregnancy, the blood pressure and 24 h-UP had no significant differences among groups. On days 15, 19, and 21, the blood pressure and 24 h-UP in the model group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). On days 19 and 21, the blood pressure and 24 h-UP in ARC group and RAP group were lower than those in the model group(P<0.05), and they were higher in the ARC+3-MA group than in the ARC group(P<0.05). On day 21, the model group had lower body weight and body length of fetal rats(P<0.05), higher serum level of ET-1, and lower serum level of NO(P<0.05) than the control group. Moreover, the placental tissue showed typical pathological damage, down-regulated expression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, Beclin-1 and eNOS(P<0.05), up-regulated expression of ET-1, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18(P<0.05), and elevated ROS level. Compared with the model group, ARC and RAP groups showed increased body weight and body length of fetal rats(P<0.05), lowered serum level of ET-1, elevated serum level of NO(P<0.05), reduced pathological damage of placental tissue, up-regulated expression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, Beclin-1, and eNOS(P<0.05), down-regulated expression of ET-1, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18(P<0.05), and lowered ROS level. Compared with ARC group, 3-MA reversed the effects of ARC on the above indicators. In conclusion, ARC can inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and mitigate vascular endothelial damage in PIH rats by inducing autophagy of vascular endothelial cells.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Animals ; Rats ; Humans ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced/drug therapy* ; Endothelial Cells ; Inflammasomes ; Interleukin-18 ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Beclin-1 ; Cesarean Section ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Placenta ; Caspase 1 ; Autophagy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Chinese plaster containing rhubarb and mirabilite on surgical site infection (SSI) in patients with cesarean delivery (CD) by performing a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included 560 patients with CD due to fetal head descent enrolled at a tertiary teaching center between December 31, 2018 and October 31, 2021. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to a Chinese medicine (CM) group (280 cases) or a placebo group (280 cases) by a random number table, and were treated with CM plaster (made by rhubarb and mirabilite) or a placebo plaster, respectively. Both courses of treatment lasted from the day 1 of CD, followed day 2 until discharge. The primary outcome was the total number of patients with superficial, deep and organ/space SSI. The secondary outcome was duration of postoperative hospital stay, antibiotic intake, and unplanned readmission or reoperation due to SSI. All reported efficacy and safety outcomes were confirmed by a central adjudication committee that was unaware of the study-group assignments. RESULTS: During the recovery process after CD, the rates of localized swelling, redness and heat were significantly lower in the CM group than in the placebo group [7.55% (20/265) vs. 17.21% (47/274), P<0.01]. The durution of postoperative antibiotic intake was shorter in the CM group than in the placebo group (P<0.01). The duration of postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the CM group than in the placebo group (5.49 ± 2.68 days vs. 8.96 ± 2.35 days, P<0.01). The rate of postoperative C-reactive protein elevation (≽100 mg/L) was lower in the CM group than in the placebo group [27.6% (73/265) vs. 43.8% (120/274), P<0.01]. However, there was no difference in purulent drainage rate from incision and superficial opening of incision between the two groups. No intestinal reactions and skin allergies were found in the CM group. CONCLUSIONS CM plaster containing rhubarb and mirabilite had an effect on SSI. It is safe for mothers and imposes lower economic and mental burdens on patients undergoing CD. (Registration No. ChiCTR2100054626).
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Surgical Wound Infection/etiology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Cesarean Section/adverse effects* ; Double-Blind Method ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: The increasing costs of hospital delivery have increased the economic burden of pregnant women, and the mode of delivery is the main factor affecting the costs of hospital delivery. This study aims to explore the difference in costs between cesarean section and natural delivery, and to provide reference for controlling the increase of hospital delivery costs. METHODS: The data of inpatient delivery in the Hunan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were selected to compare the total inpatient costs and average daily costs of cesarean section and natural delivery. The linear trend model was used to analyze the trend change of inpatient delivery costs and the generalized linear model was used to analyze the influential factors for inpatient delivery costs. RESULTS: The average hospitalization costs of cesarean section (10 447.25 yuan) were higher than that of natural delivery (5 567.95 yuan), and the average daily costs of cesarean section (1 902.57 yuan) were higher than those of natural delivery (1 666.40 yuan). There was no significant increase or decrease in trend for cesarean section, while the average annual growth rate of the costs of natural delivery was 11.79%. The main factors affecting the hospitalization costs of cesarean section and natural delivery included age, occupation, medical insurance, route of admission, length of stay, premature delivery and complications (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The total hospitalization costs and average daily costs of cesarean section are higher than those of natural delivery, but the costs of natural delivery show a faster growth trend, and the hospitalization costs of cesarean section and natural delivery should be controlled by targeted measures.
Child ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Cesarean Section ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals ; Hospital Costs ; Inpatients ; Retrospective Studies