Puerperal Clostridium perfringens Sepsis in a Patient with Granulocytopenia

Unexpected Death Associated With Clostridial Sepsis

ABSTRACT

An 85-year-old woman with a history of breast carcinoma presented to hospital after gradual onset of abdominal pain with hypotension, jaundice, and massive intravascular hemolysis. This was caused by Clostridium perfringens septicemia originating from a liver abscess. Clostridium perfringens septicemia is a rare infection that has a high mortality rate, given that it is frequently unable to be diagnosed until postmortem examination. The source of the pathogen is usually intra-abdominal. Hepatic abscesses, although an uncommon source of primary clostridial infection, should be considered in such cases.

Sudden death caused by Clostridium perfringens sepsis presenting as massive intravascular hemolysis

An 80-year-old Japanese woman with diabetes mellitus was admitted with gastrointestinal symptoms and pyrexia. At presentation, liver abscesses and severe hemolytic anemia were noted. Before detailed diagnostic evaluation and adequate treatment, she suddenly died 2.5 hours after admission. The autopsy and bacteriological examinations revealed liver abscesses and massive intravascular hemolysis caused by Clostridium perfringens as well as other miscellaneous critical pathological findings, including acute renal tubular necrosis, lung edema, and pulmonary fat embolism. In this article, the detailed autopsy results are described and clinicopathologic characteristics on Clostridium perfringens-related sudden death are discussed with a review of the literature.

Clostridial Hepatic Gas Gangrene with Massive Intravascular Haemolysis and Acute Renal Failure: A Case Report and Literature Review

Clostridial hepatic gas gangrene is a rare but highly fatal disease. We report a complicated case of clostridial hepatic gas gangrene, presented with short history of fever, followed by severe back pain and systemic hypertension. Urgent contrast computed tomogram (CT) thorax and abdomen was performed to rule out aortic dissection. Instead, a gas-forming lesion was found in the liver, with multiple areas of hepatic venous gas. Also, CT showed poor renal contrast excretion, indicating acute renal failure. Unexpectedly, the patient developed cardiac arrest shortly after imaging and succumbed despite active resuscitation. Repeated biochemical tests showed gross hemolysis. Autopsy revealed generalised autolytic changes in internal organs with abundance of Gram positive bacilli. The overall picture was compatible with clostridial hepatic gas gangrene, with massive intravascular haemolysis and acute renal failure. Upon literature review, the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive management is highlighted.

Massive intravascular hemolysis from Clostridium perfringens septicemia: a review

We describe the case of a patient with hemolysis-associated Clostridium perfringens septicemia and review all similar cases published in the literature since 1990, with specific focus on the relationship between treatment strategy and survival. We searched PubMed for all published cases of C. perfringens-associated hemolysis, using the medical subject terms "clostridia," "clostridial sepsis," and/or "hemolysis." All case reports, case series, review articles, and other relevant references published in the English literature since 1990 were included in this study. There were no exclusion criteria. Each case was examined with respect to presenting features of illness, antibiotic regimen, time-to-antibiotic therapy, additional interventions, complications, and patient survival. These variables were entered into a data set and then systematically analyzed with the aid of a statistician, using serial t tests and chi-square analyses. Since 1990, 50 patients of C. perfringens septicemia with hemolysis have been reported. Median age was 61 years (range 31-84), and 58% were male. Mortality was 74%, with a median time to death of 9.7 hours (range 0-96 hours). Of the patients, 35 (70%) were treated medically, while 15 (30%) received antibiotics and surgery. Surgical intervention was associated with significantly improved survival (risk ratio [RR] 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10, 0.53) as was the use of a combination of penicillin and clindamycin (RR of death 0.46, 95% CI 0.25, 0.83). Four patients utilizing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) have been reported, and all patients survived. In cases of clostridial sepsis with hemolysis, strong predictors of survival include early initiation of appropriate antibiotics as well as surgical removal of infected foci. The HBOT may also be associated with survival. The disease often progresses rapidly to death, so rapid recognition is critical for the patient survival.

Re-laparotomy after cesarean section: operative complications in surgical delivery

OBJECTIVE

To determine the risk factors causing re-laparotomy and the indications, management and outcomes of re-laparotomy after a cesarean section.

METHODS

We had, during the study period of January 2002 to January 2007, 28,799 cesarean sections and 35 cases with re-laparotomy. We studied the patients' age, parity, indications for cesarean section and indications for re-laparotomy, time interval after cesarean section to reopening of the abdomen, type of surgery, need for blood transfusion and span of hospital stay.

RESULTS

The incidence of re-laparotomy was 0.12%. Cases with placental abruption and previous cesarean > or =3 had a higher risk for re-laparotomy. Procedures that were performed at re-laparotomy were drainage and resuturing of hematomas (n = 8), resuturing of uterus and securing hemostasis with stitches (n = 10), bladder repair (n = 1), herniation repair (n = 1), total abdominal hysterectomy (n = 2), subtotal abdominal hysterectomy (n = 5), and draining and resuturing of broad ligament, parametrium, abdominal wound, and cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue due to infection and abscess formation (n = 8). Two cases required admission into the intensive care unit. We had one case with maternal mortality. Majority of the complications were revealed at an early period and these were hemorrhagic cases mostly.

CONCLUSION

Although the rate of re-laparotomy after cesarean section is low, several actions must be undertaken to decrease the need for re-laparotomy. In particular, cases with placental abruption and previous cesarean > or =3 are with higher risk for re-laparotomy and have a 15-fold risk for re-laparotomy after cesarean section.