An Unusual Case of Shock Following an Elective Caesarean Delivery.

Background: The differential diagnosis of peripartum chest pain and cardiogenic shock is broad and includes pulmonary embolism, amniotic fluid embolism, peripartum and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and anaesthetic complications.

Case: A 31-year-old woman with Addison's disease underwent an elective caesarean section that was complicated by chest pain and cardiogenic shock. After initial resuscitation, she was transferred to a tertiary hospital, and urgent transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe systolic dysfunction. She was treated with an increased dose of hydrocortisone and intravenous furosemide and improved. Follow-up imaging showed improvement of left ventricular systolic function.

Conclusion: In patients with cardiogenic shock after delivery, early transthoracic echocardiography is a non-invasive tool that can rapidly narrow the differential diagnosis.