A rare case of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome after abdominoplasty

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition resulting from an overwhelming immunological response to an exotoxin released by Staphylococcus aureus. TSS has rarely been described as a complication after elective aesthetic plastic surgery. We present here the case of a patient who underwent abdominoplasty after massive weight loss and had a near-fatal case of TSS 6 weeks after surgery. Prolonged use of closed suction drains may have been the ultimate source of virulent bacterial growth leading to systemic toxicity. To our knowledge, TSS has not been reported as a complication after abdominoplasty, nor has a case with such a delayed presentation of the disease been described.