An unusual cause of fetomaternal distress at term: uterine vessel rupture in pregnancy

This report describes a case of spontaneous bleeding from uterine vessels presenting as hyperstimulation and fetomaternal distress at term. A 40-week primigravid woman underwent an emergency caesarean section for fetal distress, which unexpectedly revealed a spontaneous haemoperitoneum. Clinical assessment and investigations postoperatively gave a diagnosis of a right-sided uterine artery aneurysm that, it was believed, had ruptured, causing the haemoperitoneum. This was successfully treated postnatally using interventional radiological techniques leading to expeditious maternal recovery and discharge home.