title: Septic pelvic thrombophlebitis: an unusual treatable postpartum complication.
abstract: Septic pelvic thrombophlebitis is an uncommon but serious postpartum complication occurring in about 1 in 2,000 pregnancies, characterized by pain, antibiotic resistant fever and tachycardia. In about 50% of cases a pelvic mass is present which is usually right-sided (especially when the ovarian vein is involved). It is estimated to cause 18 maternal deaths per million pregnancies in the United States. Use of contrast enhanced CT scanning and a trial of heparin therapy increases the diagnostic certainty. It is particularly important because surgical management which may otherwise be suggested because of a spiking fever and a mass seems to be associated with a poorer prognosis than does conservative management.
authors.affiliation: National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keogh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kelehan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000667:Ampicillin