Maternal Mortality Due to an Undiagnosed Large Thymoma in Puerperium: A Case Report

Introduction: Delayed or avoided medical care due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related concerns may increase morbidity and mortality associated with both acute and chronic health conditions. Thymoma is uncommon in pregnancy, although it could be accompanied with unfavorable outcomes. We report a puerperal woman presented with dyspnea and cardiac arrest with a recent diagnosis of thymoma that led to maternal mortality. Case Presentation: A 38-year-old woman with occasional dyspnea during pregnancy without medical referral was admitted to the hospital with severe dyspnea and orthopnea three days after cesarean section. Spiral computed tomography (CT) angiography showed a 64 × 84-centimeter mass with soft tissue density in the left perivascular that was originated from the anterior mediastinum; in biopsy, thymoma was suggested. She died shortly after due to severe dyspnea and cardiac arrest. Conclusions: Prenatal care during COVID-19 pandemic should not be postponed. Indeed, any symptom similar to the physiologic changes in pregnancy needs to be evaluated for optimal clinical management.

Clinical observation of severe novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 that complicated the postpartum period in puerpera after caesarean section

The article presents a clinical case of a severe course of a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) that complicated the postpartum period in a patient who underwent cesarean section and resulted in lethal outcome on day 43 after delivery. This observation demonstrates the variety of clinical manifestations of a novel coronavirus infection, masking a severe systemic intravascular catastrophe in a puerperal woman.

Sociodemographic and obstetric factors associated with the interruption of breastfeeding within 45 days postpartum - Maternar Cohort Study

Objectives: to evaluate and identify the prevalence of interruption of breastfeeding (BF) in the period of up to 45 days postpartum and the associated sociodemographic and obstetric factors. Methods: cohort of 622 puerperal women, selected between 2018 and 2019 in a reference maternity hospital in the South Brazil. Data collection was carried out in two phases, the first in the maternity hospital during hospitalization of the puerperal woman and the newborn and the second through a telephone call, which occurred 60 days after birth. Poisson regressions with robust variance were performed to identify the factors associated with interruption of BF in the first 45 days of life. The variables that presented p<0.20 in the crude analysis were included in the adjusted analysis. Results: the interruption of BF at 45 days was identified in 14% of the sample. Higher maternal age (PR= 0.46; CI95%= 0.22-0.93), eight years or less of education (PR= 2.11; CI95%= 1.05-4.25), support from the maternal grandmother (PR= 1.91; CI95%= 1.20-3.06) and receiving complement at the maternity hospital (PR= 1.53; CI95%= 1.04-2.25) were factors related to the interruption of BF in the 45-day postpartum period. Conclusion: maternal age ≥35 was a protective factor, and less education, the support of the maternal grandmother and receiving complement at the maternity hospital were predictors of early breastfeeding abandonment.

Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Negative Puerperal Woman

Cryptococcal meningitis is a common opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients and other immunocompromised people. Pregnancy, which is a state of relative immunosuppression, can also be a risk factor for the development of cryptococcal meningitis. We report a clinical case of a 41-year-old woman who developed a severe meningeal syndrome after an otherwise normal pregnancy. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical analysis presented hypoglycorrhachia, high protein levels, and pleocytosis. Cryptococcal antigen tested positive in serum and CSF, and Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in the CSF culture. The diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis was confirmed, and antifungal induction therapy was started with liposomal amphotericin B and flucytosine. After clinical improvement, induction therapy was discontinued, and the patient was discharged under maintenance therapy with fluconazole. While under antifungal maintenance therapy, the patient presented worsening of symptoms and a new brain magnetic resonance showed the development of multiple cryptococcoma. Despite sterile CSF cultures, there was a deterioration of the cytochemical parameters. The diagnosis of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome was assumed, and after initiation of corticotherapy, the patient improved considerably. This is a rare case of cryptococcal meningitis in a puerperal woman with a challenging management.