UTERINE RUPTURE ASSOCIATED WITH RECENT ANTEPARTUM COCAINE ABUSE

Background: The diagnosis of uterine rupture is aided by the identific ation of risk factors, such as oxytocin administration. In several exp eriments, cocaine has been shown to stimulate uterine contractility. C omplications from cocaine abuse during pregnancy have increased dramat ically in the United States, and cocaine may increase the risk for ute rine rupture. Cases: Two cases of uterine rupture were associated with recent cocaine abuse.Conclusion: These cases and recent experiments o n the effect of cocaine on the pregnant uterus suggest that antepartum cocaine abuse may increase the risk of uterine rupture.