Postpartum hemorrhage is a significant cause of maternal morbidity in the United States, and the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. The most common causes of primary postpartum hemorrhage include uterine atony, laceration, retained placenta or maternal bleeding disorder [1]. Less commonly, vulvovaginal hematoma and pseudoaneurysm of the pelvic vasculature can cause postpartum hemorrhage.

Puerperal hematoma is a rare but serious obstetrical complication that occurs in 1 in 300–1500 deliveries [2]. Risk factors for the development of postpartum vulvovaginal hematomas include laceration, episiotomy, operative delivery, nulliparity, macrosomia, increasing maternal age and maternal coagulation abnormalities [2],[3],[4]. Vulvovaginal hematomas result from lacerated vessels in the superficial fascia of the anterior or posterior pelvic triangle. Size is restricted by Colles fascia, the urogenital diaphragm and anal fascia. The mass extends toward the skin as bleeding continues and can theoretically result in rupture or skin necrosis [4],[5]. Alternatively, if the hematoma originates or extends into the upper vagina, it may track into the retroperitoneal space and cause massive, unrestricted hemorrhage [6]. Fortunately, most hematomas form due to slow venous oozing and do not often result in life-threatening bleeding [4],[7]. Puerperal hematoma formation from arterial bleeding, or even an arterial pseudoaneurysm, is more rare and can lead to catastrophic hemorrhage [8].

Pseudoaneurysm refers to a disruption in the arterial wall caused by inflammation or trauma. Rupture of a pseudoaneurysm can lead to life-threatening bleeding [9],[10]. Pelvic artery pseudoaneurysms cause 3.3% of secondary postpartum hemorrhage (within 24 hours to 6 weeks post-delivery), but they are a rare cause of immediate postpartum hemorrhage (onset <24 hours). The majority of postpartum pseudoaneurysms (75%) are diagnosed within the uterine artery and lead to significant uterine bleeding [8]. There are rare reports of pseudoaneurysm rupture in alternate locations following obstetric delivery, including the vaginal artery, internal pudendal artery, and labial artery [9],[10],[11]. In each case, angiography and selective arterial embolization were used to successfully achieve cessation of postpartum hemorrhage.

Management of puerperal hematoma is dependent on the patient’s clinical status and may include a combination of conservative measures, transfusion, surgical evacuation, and/or arterial embolization [1]. When vulvovaginal hematoma and postpartum hemorrhage result from arterial pseudoaneurysm rupture, we advocate for selective arterial embolization, followed by surgical evacuation especially when the hematoma is large in order to avoid prolonged pain and skin necrosis.

The patient is a 27-year-old multiparous woman (G2P0101) who presented to labor and delivery triage at 36 weeks and 4 days gestation with complaint of leakage of fluid and was found to have preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Her obstetric history was significant for a prior cesarean delivery due to fetal malpresentation. She strongly desired trial of labor after cesarean delivery and was admitted for augmentation of labor following presentation and PPROM. Induction agents included an intracervical Foley catheter and intravenous (IV) Pitocin. The patient was diagnosed with preeclampsia with severe features during her intrapartum course and was started on IV magnesium for seizure prophylaxis. She did not have history of bleeding disorder. Otherwise, her labor progressed well, and she underwent an uncomplicated, non-operative vaginal birth after cesarean delivery of a live-born male infant weighing 2240 g. No episiotomy was made. A hemostatic and superficial 3 cm laceration involving only the vaginal mucosa just to the right of midline was repaired in standard running locked fashion.

Immediately postpartum at the time of the patient’s laceration repair, she developed a right labial hematoma which was initially small and stable at 2 cm. Within the course of 1 hour, it began to expand until it reached 10 cm in the greatest dimension over the course of 4 hours (Figure 1A and Figure 1B). As the hematoma expanded, the patient reported perineal pain in addition to light-headedness. She became hemodynamically unstable due to hypotension and acute blood loss anemia, with hemoglobin drop from 9.7 to a nadir of 6.5 within several hours of delivery as the hematoma expanded. Hypotension resolved with fluid resuscitation and transfusion of 2 units of packed red blood cells. Due to rapid expansion of the hematoma a CT angiogram was performed which demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm with active bleeding from a branch of the right obturator artery. Interventional radiology performed a successful coil embolization of the distal right obturator artery branch which supplied the pseudoaneurysm (Figure 2A and Figure 2B). Following the procedure, hematoma size and hemodynamic status remained stable. The next day, the patient was recommended to undergo subsequent incision and drainage given large hematoma size and concern for tissue compression and possible necrosis. She underwent uncomplicated incision and drainage with evacuation of the hematoma, with estimated blood loss 300 mL. No active bleeding was noted following the procedure and the vagina was packed. The patient did receive 24 hours of Ancef in the perioperative period for infection prophylaxis, after which time antibiotics were discontinued. Packing was removed on postoperative day 1 with significant improvement noted in labial edema. She was discharged to home on postpartum day 3 (postoperative day 2) and was doing well at the time of her 6-week postpartum follow-up appointment.

This case highlights both vulvovaginal hematoma and pelvic artery pseudoaneurysm as rare but life-threatening causes of postpartum hemorrhage. Puerperal hematomas typically develop following a vaginal delivery complicated by the need for operative instrumentation, laceration, or macrosomia. Most vulvovaginal hematomas are small and resolve with conservative measures alone, although few require surgical intervention. Pelvic artery pseudoaneurysm, another unique obstetrical complication, typically arises from the uterine artery and presents as secondary postpartum hemorrhage due to heavy uterine bleeding [8],[11]. Rarely does a pseudoaneurysm of the pelvic vasculature cause a rapidly expanding vulvovaginal hematoma in the immediate postpartum period.

It is our understanding that there are only three other reports describing a postpartum pelvic artery pseudoaneurysm arising from a source that is not the uterine artery [9],[10],[11]. These included pseudoaneurysms of the labial artery, vaginal artery, and internal pudendal arteries. All of these resulted in secondary postpartum hemorrhage, with pseudoaneurysm of the pelvic vasculature diagnosed by CT angiography. Each case presented as massive hemorrhage, and was successfully managed with selective arterial embolization, and there were no reports of subsequent vaginal or vulvar necrosis following embolization.

While we can certainly draw conclusions from the above reports, to the best of our knowledge no case of obturator artery pseudoaneurysm resulting in significant puerperal hematoma has been reported. This is especially interesting in the setting of relatively uncomplicated vaginal delivery with no risk factors for hematoma formation.

Generally speaking, the management of puerperal hematoma is multifactorial. Per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), most genital tract hematomas can be managed conservatively with blood product transfusion as needed. However, in the case of a hematoma that is rapidly expanding, or vital sign instability, surgical evacuation is recommended [1]. Unfortunately, when surgical management is pursued the tamponade against the bleeding vessel is often released, and bleeding continues until the vessel can be discovered and ligated [6]. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also offers selective arterial embolization as an option; however, the criteria for its utilization are unclear.

Surgical evacuation of puerperal hematoma was the mainstay of treatment until around 1980, when reports of selective arterial embolization started to arise [2]. However, determining one route of management versus the other can be challenging. Tsumagari et al. created an algorithm for management of puerperal hematoma, stating that location should determine treatment. Vulvovaginal hematomas should be observed versus surgically evacuated, whereas upper vaginal hematomas should undergo CT angiography for assessment of selective arterial embolization [2].

We feel that this algorithm is not a “one size fits all” approach. In our case, the patient developed rapidly expanding hematoma over the course of several hours immediately postpartum. She experienced acute blood loss anemia requiring transfusion and vital sign instability. Given the overall clinical picture our cohort was concerned for an arterial bleed, which is why CT angiography was performed and interventional radiology was consulted. Following embolization of the right obturator artery branch pseudoaneurysm, the patient’s hematoma size and hemodynamic status remained stable. This allowed for our team to pursue controlled hematoma evacuation, which may have decreased the risk of skin breakdown and necrosis. The patient is currently doing well at time of last follow-up with significant improvement in vulvar edema and pain. The combination approach of transfusion, selective arterial embolization, and surgical evacuation was successful in our case, and we would recommend such approach if clinical suspicion of arterial bleeding is high.

Obturator artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare cause of puerperal vulvovaginal hematoma that has not yet been described in the literature. We argue that CT angiography and arterial embolization should be considered in the setting of rapidly expanding puerperal vulvovaginal hematoma.