Severe postpartum sepsis with prolonged myocardial dysfunction: A case report

Authors

Michael A. Mazzeffi, School of Medicine
Katherine T. Chen, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

12-1-2010

Journal

Journal of Medical Case Reports

Volume

4

DOI

10.1186/1752-1947-4-318

Abstract

Introduction. Severe sepsis during pregnancy or in the postpartum period is a rare clinical event. In non obstetric surviving patients, the cardiovascular changes seen in sepsis and septic shock are fully reversible five to ten days after their onset. We report a case of septic myocardial dysfunction lasting longer than ten days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of prolonged septic myocardial dysfunction in a parturient. Case presentation. A 24 year old Hispanic woman with no previous medical history developed pyelonephritis and severe sepsis with prolonged myocardial dysfunction after a normal spontaneous vaginal delivery. Conclusions: Septic myocardial dysfunction may be prolonged in parturients requiring longer term follow up and pharmacologic treatment. © 2010 Mazzeffi and Chen; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

APA Citation

Mazzeffi, M., & Chen, K. (2010). Severe postpartum sepsis with prolonged myocardial dysfunction: A case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 4 (). http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-4-318