Catatonia in a 39-Year-Old Patient after Post-hysterectomy and Post-salpingo-oopherectomy

Authors:

Shaikh MI*

Volume 2, Issue 2

Abstract

Catatonia is a severe psychomotor syndrome which, if undiagnosed can be life threatening in its malignant form. Management includes exclusion of metabolic, infectious and neurologic causes. Appropriate psychiatric consultation is indicated following exclusion of organic causes. We report an unusual case of catatonia in a patient with no history of significant comorbidities, who exhibited unresponsive to verbal and painful stimuli in post-anesthesia-care unit following laparoscopic hysterectomy. Following exclusion of metabolic, neurologic and infectious causes, a psychiatric consultation was obtained for her continued altered mental status and unresponsiveness to physical stimuli. Based on her presenting signs and symptoms and dramatic improvement in her mental and physical status with a trial of lorazepam, a confirmed diagnosis of catatonia was made. On postoperative day 3, patient was discharged home with readjustment of her anti-depression medications doses and on lorazepam, to be tapered off over the course of 8 days. At the time of her discharge from ICU, patient had recovered completely. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of catatonia in a post-hysterectomy patient with no prior history of psychosis or significant comorbidities.

Keywords:

Post-hysterectomy; Lorazepam; Chronic anemia; Hypothyroidism; Anxiety disorders

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