Bleeding from Uterine Arteriovenous Malformation – A Life-Threatening Complication of a Surgical Aabortion

Uterine arteriovenous malformation (UVM) is a very rare abnormality resulting from anomalous arterio-venous connections in the uterus. Although rare, it causes potential life-threatening vaginal bleeding postpartum or following uterine curettage or abortions. Only a few cases have been reported in literature (less than 100). However, the incidence is assumed to be increasing due to increased availability of ultrasound scan and colour doppler studies for better detection. We present a case of a 39-year-old Para 3 woman with three previous caesarean sections (CS) who presented to our facility with vaginal bleeding associated tiredness, heart racing, lightheadedness of four days duration following surgical evacuation for missed abortion at nine weeks gestation.