Uterine atony
| Uterine atony | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| DiseasesDB | 13616 |
| MeSH | D014593 |
Uterine atony is a loss of tone in the uterine musculature. Normally, contraction of the uterine muscle compresses the vessels and reduces flow. This increases the likelihood of coagulation and prevents bleeds. Thus, lack of uterine muscle contraction can cause an acute hemorrhage. Clinically, 75-80% of postpartum hemorrhages are due to uterine atony.
[edit] Risk factors
Many factors can contribute to the loss of uterine muscle tone, including:[1]
- overdistention of the uterus
- multiple gestations
- polyhydramnios
- fetal macrosomia
- prolonged labor
- oxytocin augmentation of labor
- grand multiparity (having given birth 5 or more times)
- precipitous labor (labor lasting less than 3 hours)
- magnesium sulfate treatment of preeclampsia
- chorioamnionitis
- halogenated anesthetics
- uterine leiomyomata
[edit] Treatment
Post-partum hemorrhage related with cesarean section should be treated by surgical techniques such as the B-Lynch method.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Breathnach F, Geary M.. Uterine atony: definition, prevention, nonsurgical management, and uterine tamponade. Semin Perinatol 2009;33(2):82-7.. PMID 19324236.
- ^ Pérez-López Faustino R. Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and the B-Lynch technique. Gineweb, University of Zaragoza.. http://www.unizar.es/gine/B-Lynch.htm.
- Hacker, Neville, J. G. Moore, and Joseph Gambone. Essentials of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Philadelphia: Elsevier Inc., 2004. 151.
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