Uterine Clostridial Myonecrosis After Thermal Balloon Endometrial Ablation

BACKGROUND: We present a case of a patient who had development of uterine clostridial myonecrosis after elective thermal balloon endometrial ablation in the absence of identifiable risk factors. CASE: A 51-year-old woman underwent uneventful thermal balloon endometrial ablation for the treatment of menorrhagia. The next day, she presented with acute inflammatory syndrome, severe intravascular hemolysis, and acute kidney injury. The blood cultures and the high vaginal swab showed moderate growth of Clostridium species. A total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and renal function gradually recovered. CONCLUSION: Clostridial myonecrosis after uncomplicated surgery, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the acutely septic patient with massive hemolysis, regardless of the presence of patient's risk factors. (Obstet Gynecol 2012;120:483-5) DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31825a725d