Postpartum septic pelvic thrombophlebitis after caesarean delivery: a case report

Beyond Postpartum Fever: Case Report Uncovering Deep Septic Pelvic Thrombophlebitis

Deep septic pelvic thrombophlebitis (DSPT) is a rare postpartum condition that should be considered in the setting of postpartum fever and may prove to be a challenging diagnosis. Here, we report the case of a 26-year-old female who presented with fever and antibiotic-resistant leukocytosis following an uncomplicated cesarean delivery. After ruling out pulmonary embolism and other causes of septicemia and considering the overall negative imaging studies, the patient received a clinical diagnosis of DSPT and recovered well following antibiotic augmentation and anticoagulation.

A Rare Case of Septic Ovarian Thrombophlebitis Caused by Tissierella praeacuta

We report a case of Tissierella praeacuta bacteremia and septic thrombophlebitis of the ovarian vein as a rare puerperal complication in a young patient. She was successfully managed with subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and intravenous (IV) antibiotics before transitioning to a prolonged course of oral antibiotics at discharge.

[Postpartum ovarian vein thrombophlebitis: diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Retrospective study over 10 years]

INTRODUCTION

Postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis (POVT) is a rare but serious postpartum complication that can be life-threatening due to its embolic and septic risks. The clinical and paraclinical diagnosis is difficult because of the non-specific signs and the absence of a gold standard for imaging. There is no consensus in the literature on the treatment and follow-up of these patients. The primary objective was to specify the clinical and paraclinical signs suggestive of POVT in order to improve the diagnostic delay. The secondary objectives were to describe the extent of POVT and the proposed immediate therapeutic management.

METHODS

This was a 10-year retrospective study in a type III maternity hospital, from January 2010 to December 2019, where all patients with an imaging-confirmed diagnosis of POVT were included. We analysed the clinical and paraclinical data and the follow-up of the patients.

RESULTS

We included 9 patients with a diagnostic confirmation by imaging. The mean time from first symptoms to diagnosis was 3.3 days (±3.5 days), and only 2 patients (22.2 %) had been diagnosed with POVT before imaging. All patients received curative anticoagulation and 77.8 % (n=7) received antibiotic therapy for POVT. Two patients had a complicated form, 1 with a pulmonary embolism and 1 with a urinary tract compression requiring a urinary diversion with a double J catheter. Five patients (55.6 %) had a thrombophilia check-up.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of POVT is difficult and needs to be evoked in front of a painful symptomatology or a fever in postpartum. It can be made by ultrasound, but the injected CT scan specifying the specific search for a POVT remains the imaging examination of choice in order to confirm the diagnosis and eliminate differential diagnoses. Under curative anticoagulation and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, the clinical course is generally very favourable. A consultation with an internist makes it possible to define instructions for a subsequent pregnancy.

Sepsis in Pregnancy: Recognition and Resuscitation

The normal physiologic changes of pregnancy complicate evaluation for sepsis and subsequent management. Previous sepsis studies have specifically excluded pregnant patients. This narrative review evaluates the presentation, scoring systems for risk stratification, diagnosis, and management of sepsis in pregnancy. Sepsis is potentially fatal, but literature for the evaluation and treatment of this condition in pregnancy is scarce. While the definition and considerations of sepsis have changed with large, randomized controlled trials, pregnancy has consistently been among the exclusion criteria. The two pregnancy-specific sepsis scoring systems, the modified obstetric early warning scoring system (MOEWS) and Sepsis in Obstetrics Score (SOS), present a number of limitations for application in the emergency department (ED) setting. Methods of generation and subsequently limited validation leave significant gaps in identification of septic pregnant patients. Management requires consideration of a variety of sources in the septic pregnant patient. The underlying physiologic nature of pregnancy also highlights the need to individualize resuscitation and critical care efforts in this unique patient population. Pregnant septic patients require specific considerations and treatment goals to provide optimal care for this particular population. Guidelines and scoring systems currently exist, but further studies are required.