Acute Inversion of the Uterus

A. P. WEEKS
1886 Boston Medical and Surgical Journal  
It is not my intention to give an extended review of the literature of this subject. Matthew Duncan, in his excellent work entitled " Researches in Obstetrics," did that very fully and ably. Nor do I desire either to put forward a new theory as to the cause of this accident, or to bolster up any other man's theory. Too much fanciful speculation has been written already. I find that every man who has written a book on obstetrics, although he may never have seen a case of acute inversion, has
more » ... himself competent to express opinions concerning it, and to lay down laws to govern other men's practice in the management of it. As the observations noted in my case do not harmonize with the teachings of many of our systematic writers on obstetrics, I have collected as many histories of cases as my time would admit, which, together with my own case, I wish carefully to review, in order that we may see what experience teaches of this dangerous accident. REPORT OF MY CASE. Mrs. M-, aged twenty-two, primípara ; rather anoemic ; never strong ; of slight build, but wellformed ; at full term ; without previous pain, had the membranes rupture about seven o'clock on the morning of the 23d of June, 1883. She had no pains worth noticing until late in the evening following. About three o'clock in the morning of the 23d, that is, twentyone hours after the escape of the waters, I was called. I found the os just commencing to dilate. The head was presenting, and I could distinguish the position, O. L. A. The pains were sufficiently frequent, but short. I did not remain with the patient, but called in frequently during the forenoon to watch the progress of the case. About noon, I went to the house to remain till the completion of the labor. At, or near one o'clock, the head had descended so as to rest on the perineum, but had not escaped from the os. The pains now, instead of growing stronger and more effectual, became weak and almost ineffectual. At half-past two, there had been no advancement for an hour. I then applied the forceps without ether, and easily delivered an eight and three quarters-pound child without injury to the mother. The nurse compressed the abdomen after the delivery of the head until the child was fully expelled. When I had cared for the child and cleansed my hands, I took the nurse's position and held the uterus in hand several minutes, until I felt contraction ; then I steadied the cord, but did not draw upon it. I continued the compression with the left hand, and told the woman to bear down. She did so once, and only once. I noticed that the globular form of the uterus became less distinct.
doi:10.1056/nejm188605061141802 fatcat:ydgld7ps6va63g4omvew5vkcmi