Morbidity and Mortality in Patients Presenting with Septic Miscarriage at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to determine the frequency of maternal morbidity in terms of uterine perforation, peritonitis, and mortality in women presenting with septic miscarriage. Methods: This Descriptive cross-sectional was conducted at the Obstetrics & Gynaecology department of Nishtar Hospital, Multan-Pakistan, from 1st September 2019 to 31st March 2020. A total of 240 females presenting with septic miscarriage having parity < 5 were included in the study. A pelvic ultrasound was done to find any retained products of conception and to see uterine perforation and any free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Where uterine perforation was found, laparotomy was performed. Retained products of conception were evacuated by dilatation and curettage. Data regarding maternal morbidity (uterine perforation and peritonitis) and mortality was recorded. Results: In this study, the mean time of miscarriage to admission was 37.30 ± 9.24 hours. Regarding parity, 83.8% of females were with parity of 0-2, and 16.3% of women had a parity of 3-4. Around 38.8% of females had a medical termination of pregnancy, and 61.7% underwent surgical evacuation. Peritonitis and uterine perforation were seen in 25% and 13.3% of the patients. However, death was recorded in 7.5% of patients. Conclusion: It is concluded that septic miscarriage is a frequently encountered gynecological complication, necessitating hospital admission and treatment. It adversely affects women's health and quality of life, leading to mortality.