Infective Endocarditis Post-surgical Termination of Pregnancy: From Misdiagnosis to Life-Saving Clarity – A Catastrophe Averted
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: We report a 30-year-old woman with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis who presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of septic abortion. She was initially treated for suspected urosepsis with intravenous antibiotics and hemodialysis; however, her blood and urine cultures were sterile, and her condition failed to improve. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed septic pulmonary emboli and findings consistent with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Transthoracic echocardiography subsequently identified vegetation on the tricuspid valve, causing severe tricuspid regurgitation, confirming the diagnosis of IE. Despite medical management, her condition deteriorated, prompting surgical intervention. The patient was discharged in stable condition two weeks later, following a 37-day hospital admission. This case highlights the importance of maintaining clinical vigilance in patients, particularly women with a history of recent gynecological procedures, to promptly identify and manage rare but severe complications like infective endocarditis.
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4413256175