Sepsis After Bipolar Radiofrequency Endometrial Ablation

BACKGROUND: Endometrial ablation offers an alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of menorrhagia. The literature suggests low rates of complications for this procedure. CASE: A perimenopausal woman underwent an endometrial ablation using a bipolar radiofrequency device. She presented 36 hours postoperatively with sepsis. Her condition worsened despite 18 hours of intravenous antibiotics and aggressive fluid resuscitation, and she underwent exploratory laparotomy and hysterectomy. Blood cultures and uterine tissue cultures grew Escherichia coli. The patient improved quickly after hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that life-threatening infection can occur after endometrial ablation. (Obstet Gynecol 2009,114:445-8)