Amniotic fluid embolism: Pathophysiology from the perspective of pathology.

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is recognized as a type of syndrome characterized by the abrupt onset of hypoxia, hypotension, seizures, or disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), occurring during labor, delivery, or immediately postpartum, caused by the inflow of amniotic components into the maternal circulation. AFE is a rare condition but one of the most serious obstetrical complications, resulting in a high mortality rate among pregnant women. Despite earlier recognition and intensive critical management, we often encounter patients who unfortunately do not recover from the exacerbation of AFE-related conditions. A major concern is that there are no effective evidence-based therapies for AFE, because its pathophysiology is still not well understood. This article reviewed AFE, focusing on the pathology and currently proposed pathophysiology.

Histological characteristics of the myometrium in the postpartum hemorrhage of unknown etiology: a possible involvement of local immune reactions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological characteristics of the myometrium obtained in postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) of unknown etiology secondary to uterine atony. These characteristics were selected from among registered cases of clinically suspected amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) and classified as PPH of unknown etiology because of no obvious cause of PPH at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, a registration center for clinical AFE in Japan. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on myometrium using anti-mast cell tryptase, anti-neutrophil elastase, anti-CD68, anti-CD88, anti-CD3, and anti-ZnCP-1 antibodies. Massive infiltrations of inflammatory cells with mast cell degranulation within the myometrium secondary to complement activation were observed in PPH of unknown etiology (n=34), but not in control pregnant women (n=15) or after delivery in women without PPH (n=18). The concomitant immunohistochemical detection of meconium in myometrium suggests that amniotic fluids or fetal materials are one of the candidates for inducing maternal local immune activation in the PPH of unknown etiology. Postpartum acute myometritis in the absence of an infective etiology may be a histological characteristic of PPH of unknown etiology.

Life-threatening necrotizing myometritis, due to Group A streptococcus - still a life-threatening condition.

Puerperal infection with Group A streptococcus (GAS) can present with few symptoms and rapidly progress to a life-threatening condition. Often, the infection can be treated with antibiotics. Delay in diagnosis increases risk of sepsis, multiorgan failure, and death. GAS infection is a differential diagnose for all postpartum women with unexplained symptoms.

Ante-partum necrotising myometritis due to Streptococcal toxic shock.

Group A streptococcus (GAS) causes severe infections in obstetric patients. A rare complication is rapidly progressive necrotising myometritis. Postpartum necrotising myometritis has been previously described; however, antenatal development of such a condition is extremely rare. We present a patient who developed antenatal necrotising myometritis and toxic shock syndrome (TSS) due to GAS during the first trimester of pregnancy, eventually requiring hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. We discuss the rare complication of ante-partum necrotising myometritis, as well as the antibiotic therapy, and treatment of TSS associated with severe Group A Streptococcal infections.

The Causes of sepsis after Caesaråan section and determination of antibiotic sensitivity / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Background. Puerperal infection following caesarean section remains a major cause of maternalmorbidity and mortality. It is still one of actual problems in Obstetrics and has incidence rate 2-10%. It isestimated 150 000 maternal deaths due to infection worldwide, despite tendency to decline septicemiaafter C-section due to wide usage of antibiotics in the obstetric practice, postpartum infection hasincreased last decade. Post-Caesarean sepsis incidence rate is above 20%. An assortment of pathologicagents may cause puerperal infection including bacteria, virus and parasites. In 30-40s of last centurymain reason of infection was Streptococcus, then in 40-60s major role was played by Staphylococcus,later in 70-80s Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria took its place.Objective. To improve prevention and treatment of post-caesarean sepsis by detection of its causes andantibiotic sensitivity. Materials and methods: We reviewed patients admitted to First Maternity Hospitaland National Center for Maternal and Child Health and who had post-caesarean sepsis between 2011-2013. Statistics analysis had been performed by SPSS-17 software programme, whereas statisticsprocess by X2 test, Fisher test, and t-test. Confi rmation rate was 95%. P<0, 05.Results. The clinical course of 361 post-caesarean patients with septicemia was reviewed prospectively.Primary dysfunctional labour (P<0.033), preterm rupture of the membranes (P<0.0001), ineffectivelabour induction (P<0.001) are risk factors for infectious morbidity. Considerations should be given toprophylactic antibiotic therapy by choosing correct medicine at the correct time. E.coli 29,4%, Intestinalbacteria 9,1%, Staphylococcus epidermis’s 8,9%, Staphylococcus aureus 7,2%, Gram-NegativeBacteria 6,6%, Streptococcus 5,3%, Gram-Positive Bacteria 2,8%, Candida albicans 1,4%, Micoplasma1,1% were responsible for bacteremia, respectively.Conclusion. Bacteriology of all patients diagnosed with post-caesarean sepsis in 74, 7% was positivefor pathologic bacterial cultures. Infection caused by 1 bacteria in 141 cases (39, 1%), by 2 bacteria in 56cases (15, 5%), by 3 bacteria in 2 cases (0, 6%), without any detection of bacteria 162 cases (44, 9%).

A case of spontaneous uterine perforation result from acute gangrenous myometritis in an old woman with IUD for 40 yrs / 대한산부인과학회지

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are highly effective, long-term methods of contraception. Although evidences of direct association between IUD use and pelvic inflammatory disease are rare, the frequency of inflammatory complications associated with the use of IUDs ranges from 2% to 8%. Gynecological surgeries on the account of purulent, inflammatory disease associated with IUD are 4-7%. We report one case with spontaneous perforation of uterus due to acute gangrenous myometritis in an old woman with IUD for 40 yrs in pelvic cavity, followed by a review of the literature.