Background: Subphrenic abscess is rare after cesarean section.
Methods: Case report and review of the pertinent world literature
Case report: A 22 year-old primigravida underwent a lower-segment cesarean section in the setting of chorioamnionitis, and had a good postoperative recovery initially. Eleven days after surgery, dyspnea and fever prompted a computed tomography scan, which revealed a large subphrenic abscess. The abscess resolved with percutaneous drainage and intravenous antibiotics. A placental swab, baby's skin swab, and abscess aspirate all grew group B Streptococcus.
Conclusion: Although subphrenic abscess is rare in obstetric practice, it should be suspected in patients who remain unwell after chorioamnionitis.