title: Sepsis after bipolar radiofrequency endometrial ablation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endometrial ablation offers an alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of menorrhagia. The literature suggests low rates of complications for this procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A perimenopausal woman underwent an endometrial ablation using a bipolar radiofrequency device. She presented 36 hours postoperatively with sepsis. Her condition worsened despite 18 hours of intravenous antibiotics and aggressive fluid resuscitation, and she underwent exploratory laparotomy and hysterectomy. Blood cultures and uterine tissue cultures grew Escherichia coli. The patient improved quickly after hysterectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case demonstrates that life-threatening infection can occur after endometrial ablation.
authors.affiliation: From the University of Michigan Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salmeen
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D055356:Endometrial Ablation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000601:surgery*; D047648:Perimenopause; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy