Transvaginal oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization complicated by ovarian abscess during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an ovarian abscess presenting very late after oocyte retrieval for IVF with several unusual clinical features. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT(S): A 35-year-old nulliparous woman underwent IVF with uncomplicated transvaginal oocyte retrieval (TVOR), resulting in a dizygotic twin pregnancy. At 13 weeks of pregnancy she presented with vaginal discharge, but was otherwise constitutionally well. At 30 weeks she developed a low-grade fever, and the diagnosis of ovarian abscess was made. She received broad-spectrum antibiotics, and the abscess was drained percutaneously after cesarean delivery of twins. INTERVENTION(S): Antimicrobial therapy; cesarean section; postpartum percutaneous drainage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical and radiologic resolution of infection. RESULT(S): Complete resolution of the abscess; delivery of healthy twins. CONCLUSION(S): Infectious complications of TVOR and other surgical procedures usually occur within days of the intervention. Our case illustrates the possibility of infectious complications of TVOR presenting months after the procedure. Our patient did not become acutely ill due to the formation of a spontaneous vaginal fistula, which allowed the abscess to drain. The optimal management of this complication is unclear, but final resolution of any pelvic abscess generally requires drainage.

Use of low molecular weight heparin in acute venous thromboembolic events in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes arising from the use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of the charts of all women treated for acute VTE in pregnancy at the Ottawa Hospital from January 1990 to December 1999. RESULTS: Twenty-three cases were identified, of which 11 were treated with LMWH and 12 with UFH. Maternal and fetal outcomes were similar between the two groups. Hospital length of stay was shorter in the LMWH group. There was no difference in delivery management between the two groups. There was minor bleeding in 2 women in the UFH group and none in the LMWH group. There was one recurrent VTE during treatment in each of the groups. CONCLUSION: There is no difference in complication rate between LMWH and UFH in the treatment of acute VTE in pregnancy.