Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis associated with severe preeclampsia and pulmonary artery catheterization. A case...

A pulmonary artery catheter was placed in a parturient whose 33-week gestation was complicated by severe preeclampsia and pulmonary edema. Cesarean delivery was performed for both maternal and fetal indications. During the second postoperative day the patient developed disseminated intravascular coagulation; subsequently she experienced sudden cardiopulmonary arrest and died. Autopsy revealed multiple pulmonary thromboemboli and trivalvular nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.