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Logo of bmjcrInstructions for authorsCurrent ToCBMJ Case Reports
 
BMJ Case Rep. 2010; 2010: bcr0320102863.
Published online 2010 August 10. doi:  10.1136/bcr.03.2010.2863
PMCID: PMC3027592
Other full case
Postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis presenting as ureteral obstruction
Anuradha Kolluru,1 Rakesh Lattupalli,1 Manreet Kanwar,1 Deepak Behera,2 Desikan Kamalakannan,1 and Muhammed K Beeai1
1Department of Internal Medicine, St John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA
2Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
Correspondence to Anuradha Kolluru, anuradha.kolluru/at/gmail.com
Abstract
Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is a relatively uncommon but serious postpartum complication. Although infrequent, OVT may progress to involve the inferior vena cava, the renal vein or may cause sepsis and septic pulmonary embolism, all of which are potentially life-threatening. Clinical misdiagnosis is common, and, unfortunately, most affected women undergo laparotomy for possible appendicitis. We present an interesting case of OVT presenting as ureteral obstruction in a postpartum woman who was in her early 20s. Knowledge of this entity and clinical suspicion for its occurrence, in a puerperal patient with fever and abdominal pain not responding to antibiotics, should guide clinicians to appropriate diagnosis and treatment, avoiding misdiagnosis, unnecessary laparotomy and potential complications.
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