Severe postpartum sepsis with prolonged myocardial dysfunction: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Severe sepsis during pregnancy or in the postpartum period is a rare clinical event. In non obstetric surviving patients, the cardiovascular changes seen in sepsis and septic shock are fully reversible five to ten days after their onset. We report a case of septic myocardial dysfunction lasting longer than ten days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of prolonged septic myocardial dysfunction in a parturient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 24 year old Hispanic woman with no previous medical history developed pyelonephritis and severe sepsis with prolonged myocardial dysfunction after a normal spontaneous vaginal delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Septic myocardial dysfunction may be prolonged in parturients requiring longer term follow up and pharmacologic treatment.