Vernix caseosa peritonitis – A case report and review of the literature

Authors

  • Urška Belak Magdalenić Department for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Celje General Hospital, Celje, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7668-2293
  • Jakob Koren Department for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Celje General Hospital, Celje, Slovenia
  • Simona Šramek Zatler Department for Pathology and Cytology, Celje General Hospital, Celje, Slovenia
  • Blaž Pavič Department for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Celje General Hospital, Celje, Slovenia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6016/ZdravVestn.3397

Keywords:

vernix caseosa, peritonitis, case report, cesarean section, postoperative complication

Abstract

Vernix caseosa peritonitis is a rare complication following caesarean section or, less commonly, vaginal delivery, presenting as a hyperinflammatory reaction following the leakage of vernix- or meconium- containing amniotic fluid into the woman’s abdomen. The clinical picture shows an acute abdomen associated with high inflammatory parameters a few days after delivery. The pathophysiological mechanism of the inflammatory process is not fully understood. In our article, we present the case of a 22-year-old woman who had diffuse peritonitis with a turbulent inflammatory reaction on the fifth day after a caesarean section in the 40th week of pregnancy. There are only 30 such case reports in the world literature; to our knowledge, this is the first in Slovenia.

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Author Biographies

  • Urška Belak Magdalenić, Department for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Celje General Hospital, Celje, Slovenia

    asist. Urška Belak Magdalenić

  • Jakob Koren, Department for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Celje General Hospital, Celje, Slovenia

    asist. mag. Jakob Koren

  • Simona Šramek Zatler, Department for Pathology and Cytology, Celje General Hospital, Celje, Slovenia

    prim. Simona Šramek Zatler

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Published

2023-12-31

How to Cite

1.
Vernix caseosa peritonitis – A case report and review of the literature. ZdravVestn [Internet]. 2023 Dec. 31 [cited 2024 Sep. 27];92(11-12):476-80. Available from: https://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/3397

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