Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) and vernix caseosa peritonitis - case report
Vernix caseosa peritonitis
Abstract
Introduction: Vernix caseosa peritonitis (VCP) is a rare postpartum complication rarely recognized by clinicians despite the increased incidence of cesarean sections.
Case report: 23 year old patient with PPROM in progress of uncontrolled pregnancy ends with a caesarean section. On the 4th day after the caesarean section, the patient developed a fever, abdominal pain and laboratory analyzes with elevated inflammatory factors. In lochia swab were founded two bacterias: Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. Relaparotomia was performed and we found hemorrhagic-purulent contents in the abdominal cavity and a multiple cheesy fibrin deposits on the intestines and in the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal lavage was performed and patient was on triple antibiotic therapy for 7 days and completely recovered. Histopathological analysis showed mixture of inflammatory cells concentrated around non-nuclear cells with wrinkled edges, which primarily corresponds to the inflammatory-altered vernix.
Conclusion: VCP early recognition is very important because it can stop resection of the abdominal organs who are altered with inflammation.
References
2. Sadath SA, Abo Diba FI, Nayak S, Shamali IA, Diejomaoh MF. Vernix caseosa peritonitis after vaginal delivery. Clin Med Insights Case Rep. 2013;6:147-152.
3. Stuart OA, Morris AR, Baber RJ. Vernix caseosa peritonitis - no longer rare or innocent: a case series. J Med Case Rep. 2009;3:60. Published 2009 Feb 10. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-3-60
4. Sadath SA, Abo Diba FI, Nayak S, Shamali IA, Diejomaoh MF. Vernix caseosa peritonitis after vaginal delivery. Clin Med Insights Case Rep. 2013;6:147-152. Published 2013 Oct 10. doi:10.4137/CCRep.S12771
5. Cathelain A, Helbert P, Petit S, Fromentin C, Valat AS. Péritonite à vernix caseosa après accouchement voie basse : une complication exceptionnelle et méconnue du post-partum [Vernix caseosa peritonitis after vaginal delivery: A rare and unrecognized postpartum complication]. Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2019;47(11):819-821. doi:10.1016/j.gofs.2019.06.005
6. Chambers AC, Patil AV, Alves R, Hopkins JC, Armstrong J, Lawrence RN. Delayed presentation of vernix caseosa peritonitis. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2012;94(8):548-551. doi:10.1308/003588412X13373405385296
7. Myers JR, Fernando C. Radiology of vernix caseosa peritonitis: case report and discussion. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2011;55(3):301-303. doi:10.1111/j.1754-9485.2011.02271.
8. Soper DE, Mayhall CG, Dalton HP. Risk factors for intraamniotic infection: a prospective epidemiologic study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989;161(3):562-568. doi:10.1016/0002-9378(89)90356-6
9. Selo-Ojeme D. Vernix caseosa peritonitis. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2007;27(7):660-663. doi:10.1080/01443610701582792
