Summary

A 32-year-old multigravid patient at 21 weeks gestation presents with major concealed placental abruption and subsequent fetal demise. During an eventually failed misoprostol regime aiming for vaginal delivery she develops severe disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Subsequent hysterotomy reveals Couvelaire uterus with major haemorrhage and requires subtotal hysterectomy for haemostasis. This case highlights the severity of the systemic response to abruption and fetal demise in utero and the multifactorial nature of its management.