Abstract:

Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT), a rare puerperal complication, is often caused by puerperal infective endometritis. If left untreated, OVT may lead to serious complications such as infection spread or pulmonary embolism. However, OVT is prone to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in clinical practice. By reviewing the data of two patients admitted postpartum with low back pain, with or without fever, who were eventually diagnosed with OVT, we found that both patients had hydronephrosis on imaging during the course of their visits. After treatment, the hydronephrosis and ovarian vein thrombosis disappeared. Many relevant literatures showed that there are certain limitations in the original triple syndrome of puerperal OVT (fever, abdominal pain and abdominal mass). Hydronephrosis could be companied with puerperal OVT, suggesting that the ultrasound examination of urinary system should be performed routinely. If hydronephrosis be found, also suggesting the possibility of OVT in puerperal patients, a clear diagnosis should be make as soon as possible.

Key words: Venous thrombosis, Puerperal infection, Fever, Hydronephrosis, Diagnosis, Case reports, Ovarian vein thrombus, Lumbar and abdominal pain