OBJECTIVES: to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients admitted with the diagnosis of puerperal sepsis of pelvic origin in an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: a cross-sectional study, from February to August 2010 was conducted. Cases of puerperal sepsis from pelvic origin admitted to the ICU obstetric Institute of Integrative Medicine Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP) - city of Recife - Brazil were investigated. The variables were: age, origin, conducting pre-natal, delivery route, use of urinary catheter, central venous catheter, intubation, vasoactive drugs, conducting relaparotomy, the number of performed relaparotomies, performing hysterectomies, the incidence of complications and death. RESULTS: 77 identified admissions for sepsis, and 35 postpartum. The mean age was 22.6 years, most coming from towns of the state. 52.9% of women were aged 20 years. 62.5% were primiparous and 68.6% had undergone cesarean section. Concerning temperature, 42.8% of patients had values below 35ºC or above 37.8ºC. Complications occurred in 45.7% of patients. Dialysis was indicated in 40% and vasoactive drug used in 22.9%. Hysterectomy was performed in 44.1% of patients, in 54.3% relaparotomy necessary. CONCLUSIONS: genital puerperal sepsis is a serious disease that affects young women with low parity. The frequency of complications and invasive procedures in this group of women is high, which implies a high morbidity and mortality. Describing this group of patients contributes with current knowledge about the disease, improving the preparation of the Centers for dealing with genital puerperal sepsis.
Sepsis; Puerperal infection; Cesarean section
