Emergency Radiology - Review

Multidetector CT appearance of the pelvis after cesarean delivery: normal and abnormal acute findings

10.5152/dir.2016.15593

  • Benedetta Gui
  • Francesco Maria Danza
  • Anna Lia Valentini
  • Maria Elena Laino
  • Alessandro Caruso
  • Brigida Carducci
  • Elena Rodolfino
  • Ersilia Devicienti
  • Lorenzo Bonomo

Received Date: 20.01.2016 Accepted Date: 27.03.2016 Diagn Interv Radiol 2016;22(6):534-541

Cesarean section (CS) may have several acute complications that can occur in the early postoperative period. The most common acute complications are hematomas and hemorrhage, infection, ovarian vein thrombosis, uterine dehiscence and rupture. Pelvic hematomas usually occur at specific sites and include bladder flap hematoma (between the lower uterine segment and the bladder) and subfascial or rectus sheath hematoma (rectus sheath or prevescical space). Puerperal hemorrhage can be associated with uterine dehiscence or rupture. Pelvic infections include endometritis, abscess, wound infection, and retained product of conception. Radiologists play an important role in the diagnosis and management of postoperative complications as a result of increasing use of multidetector CT in emergency room. The knowledge of normal and abnormal postsurgical anatomy and findings should facilitate the correct diagnosis so that the best management can be chosen for the patient, avoiding unnecessary surgical interventions and additional treatments. In this article we review the surgical cesarean technique and imaging CT technique followed by description of normal and abnormal post-CS CT findings.