Incarceration of the Gravid Uterus in Women with Previous Cesarean Section: Case Series and Literature Review

Feng Yun,1 Leyi Fu,1 Jie Wen,1 Danqing Chen,1,3 Fangfang Wang1– 4 1Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of Ch...

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Main Authors: Yun F, Fu L, Wen J, Chen D, Wang F
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:International Journal of Women's Health
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/incarceration-of-the-gravid-uterus-in-women-with-previous-cesarean-sec-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH
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author Yun F
Fu L
Wen J
Chen D
Wang F
author_facet Yun F
Fu L
Wen J
Chen D
Wang F
author_sort Yun F
collection DOAJ
description Feng Yun,1 Leyi Fu,1 Jie Wen,1 Danqing Chen,1,3 Fangfang Wang1– 4 1Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China; 3Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Maternal and Infant Health, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China; 4Linhai Branch, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Linhai, 317099, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fangfang Wang, Department of Obstetrics, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, People’s Republic of China, Email drwangfangfang@zju.edu.cnAbstract: Incarceration of the gravid uterus (IGU) is a rare and serious condition associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidities. Its occurrence in women with a history of cesarean section (CS) poses a great challenge to obstetricians. We report two cases: Case 1 presented with acute urinary retention at 11 weeks of gestation, with IGU diagnosis ultimately established at 15 weeks following persistent symptoms. Initial manual reduction attempts failed, but resolution occurred later. Case 2 developed severe urinary retention at 16 weeks, and the uterus was repositioned after Foley catheter placement. Both patients underwent uncomplicated cesarean deliveries at term. To delineate the clinical characteristics and optimal management of this condition, we conducted a comprehensive literature review and identified 29 additional cases reported over the past 40 years. Analysis revealed a median gestational age of 17 weeks at presentation and 37 weeks at delivery or pregnancy termination. Among them, 16 had one or more risk factors in addition to previous CS. Clinical presentation and treatment methods paralleled those described in non-CS patients. Successful resolution with favorable outcomes was achieved in 19 cases, with interventions initiated before 20 weeks demonstrating a higher resolution rate. Severe maternal complications occurred in 30% of cases, predominantly in unresolved ones, including two uterine ruptures. Early diagnosis and active management are crucial for optimizing obstetric outcomes and reducing maternal complications in these patients.Keywords: incarcerated retroverted uterus, cesarean section, pregnancy outcomes, uterine rupture
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series International Journal of Women's Health
spelling doaj-art-3e07f33affab4d2a8857802ce22c9eb02025-07-22T18:12:57ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Women's Health1179-14112025-07-01Volume 17Issue 122552263105080Incarceration of the Gravid Uterus in Women with Previous Cesarean Section: Case Series and Literature ReviewYun F0Fu L1Wen J2Chen D3Wang F4Department of ObstetricsObstetricsDepartment of ObstetricsDepartment of ObstetricsDepartment of gynaecology and obstetricsFeng Yun,1 Leyi Fu,1 Jie Wen,1 Danqing Chen,1,3 Fangfang Wang1– 4 1Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China; 3Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Maternal and Infant Health, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China; 4Linhai Branch, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Linhai, 317099, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fangfang Wang, Department of Obstetrics, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, People’s Republic of China, Email drwangfangfang@zju.edu.cnAbstract: Incarceration of the gravid uterus (IGU) is a rare and serious condition associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidities. Its occurrence in women with a history of cesarean section (CS) poses a great challenge to obstetricians. We report two cases: Case 1 presented with acute urinary retention at 11 weeks of gestation, with IGU diagnosis ultimately established at 15 weeks following persistent symptoms. Initial manual reduction attempts failed, but resolution occurred later. Case 2 developed severe urinary retention at 16 weeks, and the uterus was repositioned after Foley catheter placement. Both patients underwent uncomplicated cesarean deliveries at term. To delineate the clinical characteristics and optimal management of this condition, we conducted a comprehensive literature review and identified 29 additional cases reported over the past 40 years. Analysis revealed a median gestational age of 17 weeks at presentation and 37 weeks at delivery or pregnancy termination. Among them, 16 had one or more risk factors in addition to previous CS. Clinical presentation and treatment methods paralleled those described in non-CS patients. Successful resolution with favorable outcomes was achieved in 19 cases, with interventions initiated before 20 weeks demonstrating a higher resolution rate. Severe maternal complications occurred in 30% of cases, predominantly in unresolved ones, including two uterine ruptures. Early diagnosis and active management are crucial for optimizing obstetric outcomes and reducing maternal complications in these patients.Keywords: incarcerated retroverted uterus, cesarean section, pregnancy outcomes, uterine rupturehttps://www.dovepress.com/incarceration-of-the-gravid-uterus-in-women-with-previous-cesarean-sec-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWHincarceration of the gravid uterusprevious cesarean sectionpregnancycomplications
spellingShingle Yun F
Fu L
Wen J
Chen D
Wang F
Incarceration of the Gravid Uterus in Women with Previous Cesarean Section: Case Series and Literature Review
International Journal of Women's Health
incarceration of the gravid uterus
previous cesarean section
pregnancy
complications
title Incarceration of the Gravid Uterus in Women with Previous Cesarean Section: Case Series and Literature Review
title_full Incarceration of the Gravid Uterus in Women with Previous Cesarean Section: Case Series and Literature Review
title_fullStr Incarceration of the Gravid Uterus in Women with Previous Cesarean Section: Case Series and Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Incarceration of the Gravid Uterus in Women with Previous Cesarean Section: Case Series and Literature Review
title_short Incarceration of the Gravid Uterus in Women with Previous Cesarean Section: Case Series and Literature Review
title_sort incarceration of the gravid uterus in women with previous cesarean section case series and literature review
topic incarceration of the gravid uterus
previous cesarean section
pregnancy
complications
url https://www.dovepress.com/incarceration-of-the-gravid-uterus-in-women-with-previous-cesarean-sec-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH
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