Delivery complicated by postpartum hemorrhage and lower extremity compartment syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Extremity compartment syndrome is a rare surgical complication in which increased intracompartmental pressure threatens the viability of the muscular and nervous tissue. We report a case of a delivery complicated by postpartum hemorrhage and a lower extremity compartment syndrome.


METHODS
A multigravida in her late 20s was admitted for induction of labor at 41 weeks of gestation. She underwent a cesarean delivery for a nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing. The delivery was complicated by severe postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine atony, resulting in a cesarean hysterectomy. The patient developed a lower extremity compartment syndrome and underwent an emergent anterior tibial fasciotomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Extremity compartment syndrome is rarely encountered in obstetric care; however, there may be an association with severe postpartum hemorrhage.
Byers
Benjamin D
BD
San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Unites States Air Force Medical Center, Texas, USA. Benjamindbyers@yahoo.com
Silva
Phaelon H
PH
Kost
Edward R
ER
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D007751:Labor, Induced; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third