Postparacentesis bilateral massive vulvar edema in a patient with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Objective: To report a case of bilateral massive vulvar edema following lower abdominal paracentesis in a patient with ovarian hyperstimulation. syndrome. Design: Case report. Setting: University teaching hospital, Patient(s): A 32-year-old woman with primary infertility. Intervention (s): The patient under-went ovarian stimulation with leuprolide acetate, highly purified FSH, and hCG. Because of the development of severe ovarian hyperstimulation. syndrome, bilateral paracentesis through the lower abdominal quadrants was performed. Main Outcome Measure(s): Treatment of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Result(s): Development of bilateral massive vulvar edema 24 hours after lower abdominal paracentesis. Conclusion: This case report suggests that lower abdominal paracentesis could be the cause of vulvar edema development in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, probably due to a fistulous tract created between the peritoneal cavity and the subcutaneous tissues. (C) 2002 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.