Postpartum Septic Pelvic Thrombophlebitis in a Tertiary Maternity Hospital in Dubai, UAE

Septic pelvic thrombophlebitis (SPT) is a well-known condition, yet it remains a rare postpartum complication. It can be divided into two types: deep septic pelvic thrombophlebitis (DSPT) and ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT). In this case series, we present three cases diagnosed with ovarian vein thrombosis that were managed in our tertiary care hospital, Latifa Women and Children Hospital (LWCH), in Dubai, UAE. It is a 440-bed public tertiary care center that specializes in maternal and neonatal services, with a range of 3500 to 4000 deliveries per year. The three cases represent the total number diagnosed with this condition in the period between 2018 and 2022 among the total obstetric population during this period. The three cases developed a fever in the postpartum period, which for several days did not respond to the standard antibiotics used for endometritis. Two cases were following a cesarean section, and the third case was following vaginal delivery complicated with severe postpartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy. The clinical suspicion and awareness of the condition paved the way to reach the proper diagnosis and initiate the therapeutic dose of anticoagulants, along with broad-spectrum antibiotics, in a timely manner. The prompt diagnosis with early intervention led to optimal patient outcomes and prevented the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.