A rare case of fetal gas gangrene following premature rupture of membranes in the second trimester diagnosed with the aid of computed tomography

• Published in: Journal of obstetric anaesthesia and critical care Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 70 - 73
• Main Authors: Gupta, K, Ajith Kumar, A, Bhattacharya, Modhulika, Murthy, Pooja, Sarath, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-01-2022; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: CT imaging; foetal gas gangrene; Gangrene; Health aspects; Metronidazole; multiorgan dysfunction syndrome; Obstetrics; pprom; Premature rupture of membranes; Tazobactam; PPROM; multiorgan dysfunction syndrome; Foetal gas gangrene
• ISSN: 2249-4472
• DOI: 10.4103/JOACC.JOACC_85_21

Introduction: To report a rare case of foetal gas gangrene following premature rupture of membranes in the second trimester diagnosed with the aid of computed tomography. Case Report: A 33-year-old lady, with G4A2L1, booked and vaccinated, developed premature rupture of membranes at 25 weeks of gestation. She developed severe abdominal pain with high-grade fever on the fourth night after expectant management with intravenous antibiotics and close monitoring. As there was a new-onset shock, she was referred to the higher centre from the obstetric care unit. The ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis in the emergency room ruled out other causes of shock but confirmed intrauterine death. After planning for vaginal delivery, she had further deterioration requiring intubation and vasopressors. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the abdomen and pelvis was performed which showed foetal gas gangrene and bilateral acute cortical necrosis. Emergency hysterotomy, performed under high-risk consent delivered macerated foetus. She had atonic uterus and required obstetric hysterectomy under general anaesthesia (GA). Her post-partum course was complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome requiring multiple transfusions, prone ventilation and multiorgan support. However, she could not be salvaged and died on the 2nd day of surgery. Conclusion: We describe a rare fatal case of foetal gas gangrene in the second trimester following premature rupture of membranes which was diagnosed by a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis. The CT scan reliably identifies emphysematous changes in the amniotic cavity and foetal parts which helps in decision-making from the induction of labour to early surgical approach to prevent peritonitis and multiorgan failure. We recommend early CT scan in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine infections with shock which can change the line of management.