Objective: To present our experience and the current knowledge about
pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of the ovarian
hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
Design: Retrospective study concerning clinical and laboratory findings
of severe OHSS.
Setting: General ICU at a maternity-surgical hospital.
Patients: Ten patients suffering from severe OHSS.
Interventions: Supportive and preventive therapeutic measures applied
are described.
Measurements and results: Admission and discharge data as well as worst
values during disease course were recorded. Clinical and laboratory
findings showed third space fluid shift leading to weight gain,
generalized tissue edema, ascites, hydrothorax, abdominal distension and
pain, chest discomfort, hypovolemia, dehydration, ovaries enlargement,
electrolyte disturbances, hypoalbuminemia, high hematocrit, urea, and
WBC.
Conclusions: OHSS is an iatrogenic complication of assisted conception
of unknown pathogenesis, with potentially life-threatening sequelae due
to hemoconcentration such as circulatory shock, ARDS, hepatorenal
failure, thromboembolic phenomena, and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome.
Gynecologists and intensivists must be aware of the diagnosis and
management of the syndrome because of the widely used reproductive
techniques for assisted conception
