Maceração fetal em cadela: Relato de caso

Abstract

Fetal maceration is the septic process of degeneration of the fetus retained in the uterus, which causes softening and liquefaction of the fetal soft tissues, resulting only in the maintenance of the fetal skeleton. Females may have abdominal discomfort, gradual decrease in apetite and weight loss, vaginal discharge of various colors and a fetid odor, and fragments of fetal tissues and bones can be observed. Due to the presence of bones, uterine perforation can occur, leading to peritonitis, which can trigger adhesions, dyspnoea, and sometimes hyperthermia. The indicated treatment is emergency ovariohisterectomy associated with systemic antibiotic therapy. This paper reports the case of a four-year-old mongrel bitch, who had been in labor for four days and had a dark-colored, foul-smelling vaginal discharge of thick consistency. Physical examination showed capillary perfusion time greater than two seconds, and reactive submandibular and popliteal lymph nodes. Complete blood count showed leukopenia, neutropenia, eosinopenia, and thrombocytopenia with the presence of macroplatelets. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed an increase in the uterine diameter, alteration in the echogenicity of the uterine fluid with the presence of cellular content, hyperechogenic content with acoustic shadowing, and absence of fetal heartbeat. An ovariohysterectomy was performed, which revealed an increase in uterine volume and the presence of two macerated fetuses, one of which had its head in the cervix and the body in one of the uterine horns. It was found that there were no complications during the procedures and that dystocia was the probable cause of the pathology. The patient was discharged home with no complications during the postoperative period.