OBJECTIVE The main objectives of this study were to determine the incidence, maternal characteristics, indications, the maternal and perinatal outcomes and the complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomies done at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. METHODS This is a retrospective descriptive study covering the period January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2003. METHODS Maternity Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital RESULTS The incidence of peripartum hysterectomy during the study period was 4.34/1000 deliveries. The main indication was severe uterine bleeding from uterine rupture 89 (48.9%), uterine atony 60 (33%), placenta accreta 20 (11%) and post caesarean uterine wound sepsis and necrosis 11 (6%). The average blood loss was 2.02 (SD 0.86) L and all patients received blood transfusion. The mean age of the patients was 31.6 (SD 5.3) years and the mean parity was 2.7 (SD 1.7). Complications occurred in 28 (19.8%) patients. The stillbirth rate was 483.5/1000 deliveries and the maternal mortality was 12.9%. The average duration of hospital stay was 11 (SD 8) days. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy is high. It is performed for young nulliparous women through to elderly grand-multiparous women. The surgery is associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Timely expert management in a well resourced centre is advocated.