Uterine Rupture Medical Malpractice Lawyers in St. Louis, Missouri
At The Gogel Law Firm, our St. Louis medical malpractice attorneys know a uterine rupture is a pregnancy complication in which the wall of the uterus suddenly tears open. A uterine rupture is an extremely dangerous event that may have significant consequences for both the mother and the baby.
Uterine ruptures often occur at the site of a scar line from a prior C-section. Because of the severe effects of uterine ruptures that occur in Missouri, these increased complications are the primary reason attempting a vaginal delivery after a prior C-section is considered a substantial medical risk.
If you believe your uterine rupture or its complications were caused by a medical professional’s negligence, contact our experienced medical malpractice attorneys in St. Louis today for help.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Uterine Rupture?
While pain is a sign of uterine rupture, it may be confused with the pain that occurs during normal delivery. To help understand when a uterine rupture may be occurring, the fetal monitor can help pinpoint an issue.
Common signs that may identify uterine rupture may include:
- Drop in uterine pressure.
- Excessive bleeding and maternal shock.
- Recession of the baby’s head back into the birth canal.
- Slower and less intense contractions with pain in between.
- Sudden fetal duress indicated by an abnormal fetal heart rate.
What Can a Medical Professional Do to Minimize Uterine Rupture Injuries to the Mother and Baby?
There is an extremely short window of time for doctors to respond to avoid injury to the mother or baby and must be diagnosed quickly based on its clinical symptoms.
The key factors in the treatment and management of uterine rupture include:
- Timely recognition and a presumptive diagnosis of the rupture.
- Immediate intervention to deliver the baby as quickly as possible.
As soon as doctors even suspect uterine rupture, they must immediately stabilize the mother and then try to deliver the baby as fast as possible. Intervention almost always involves an emergency C-section delivery to avoid severe injuries or death to the mother and/or baby.
What Type of Injuries Result from Uterine Ruptures?
Once the baby is successfully delivered via C-section, doctors will need to surgically repair the mother’s torn uterus and address any injuries that the medical emergency caused.
That may include, but is not limited to:
- Significant blood loss requiring the mother to undergo a transfusion.
- Emergency hysterectomy, which is the complete removal of the uterus.
Unfortunately, the birth injuries that occur to the child during a uterine rupture are often permanent, and include:
- Acute oxygen deprivation.
- Cerebral Palsy.
- Hypoxia and serious brain injuries.
- Serious brain injuries like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
Fetal death from asphyxia is a serious threat, as approximately 6% of all babies will not survive a uterine rupture.
Studies show, most cases — over 58% — of uterine ruptures were associated with mid-forceps delivery, breech or version extractions, injudicious use of Pitocin (12.5% of uterine ruptures were the result of mistakes doctors and nurses made with Pitocin), and prolonged labor, which were all preventable.
If you or your baby suffered severe injuries during a uterine rupture in Missouri, contact our St. Louis medical malpractice lawyer today to review your case by calling (314) 370-8173 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
