ABSTRACT

Pulmonary embolus is a rare and serious complication of myoma uteri in the puerperium that resulted in late postpartum hysterectomy A 38-year-old, multiparous woman with a large myoma located on the left lateral wall of the uterus underwent emergency cesarean section due to fetal distres at 28 weeks. During the operation, a 15 cm sized intramural myoma was left without any intervention. On the 40th day postpartum the patient returned to the clinic with sepsis and pulmonary embolus because of obstruction of lochia drainage by the sloughed off myoma. The patient underwent hysterectomy and medical therapy for pulmonary embolus. We presented an unusual complication of uterine leiomyoma in the late postpartum period after cesarean section. Whatever the mode of sloughing off ofthe myoma, the results of the obstruction of lochia drainage may be devastating as in our case. To avoid these complications, clinicians must be aware of these symptoms and prompt intervention is essential.

Keywords: Myoma uteri, pregnancy, puerperium, pulmonary embolus, sepsis