Fetal Gas Gangrene: A Rare and Critical Case

Abstract

Gas gangrene is a lethal necrotic infection resulting in gas production within tissue. It is typically associated with trauma and is especially lethal during pregnancy, resulting in severe maternal infection and fetal death. We report the case of a 31-year-old G3P2 female who presented to the emergency department with abdominal bloating, vaginal cramping, and brown vaginal discharge. Physical examination showed that the patient was hypertensive, tachycardic, and tachypneic, and laboratory examination showed a downtrending beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and leukocytosis, with elevated inflammatory markers. Ultrasound showed copious gas located within the lower abdomen and the fetus was not visualized. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis showed a gravid uterus with a single fetus and extensive air locules in the fetus, amniotic cavity, and placenta. The findings were consistent with gas gangrene of a mature fetus in the third trimester. Fetal gas gangrene is a potentially lethal condition during pregnancy, and early diagnosis is imperative in management. CT was utilized in this case to outline the increased gas production within the amniotic cavity and fetal organs and proved crucial in determining the next steps of management.