Incisional Hernia Complicating Pregnancy In Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Abstract

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a rare hereditary disorder of connective tissue. Specific obstetric complications reported include preterm delivery, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, pre-and peri-partal bleeding and rupture of the great vessels, bladder and vagina. We report the first case of a large incarcerated incisional hernia containing small bowel complicating pregnancy at 34 weeks in a multiparous patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (Type I) with favourable outcome. A healthy male infant was delivered by caesarean section with concomitant tubal ligation and herniorraphy. Despite favorable maternal and neonatal outcome in this case, patients with EDS who wish to get pregnant need to be alerted to the risk of these rare, but potentially serious complications.