Pulmonary thromboembolism after caesarean section: A case report

Abstract

The death of a female during pregnancy period, independent from the gestational age and localization or in a 42 day period after the end of pregnancy due to pregnancy related reasons or reasons aggravated by the pregnancy, but containing no relation with accidental or forced incidents, is defined as maternal death by the World Health Organization. Discussion of the requirements for an emboli diagnosis in an autopsy practice through literature data is aimed in our study. It has been reported that the case was 38 years old, G5 P4 and died with a respiratory distress occurred during the follow ups in 24 hours after the caesarean section. In autopsy, the body mass index was calculated as 32.8 kg/m 2 (obese) and thrombus was detected in pulmonary arteries of both lungs. Thrombus was confirmed also through histopathological analysis. Evaluation of the medical history and data obtained from a detailed autopsy are of great importance for maternal deathswhich may occur after a caesarean section and involve a pulmonary thromboembolism diagnosis in order to determine the cause of death and prevent a loss of right in medical malpractice claims.