Catatonia Following Obstetric Surgeries: A Case Series

Abstract

Background: Catatonia is a complex and easily misdiagnosed condition that if not detected timely, can be lethal despite having effective treatment. Catatonia may be viewed as a disorder of the basal ganglia–thalamocortical circuit. The purpose of our study is to focus on the fact that catatonia can be a common postoperative problem due to the stress factors of the surgery itself as well as the other associated social stresses related to pregnancy and childbirth. Case description: We, hereby report a case series of three rare cases of postoperative catatonia who had the only similarity of being anxious for a male issue. All cases had an emergency cesarean section followed by which they developed symptoms of catatonia, were diagnosed by lorazepam challenge test, and had an excellent recovery with lorazepam. All possible differential diagnoses were ruled out. Conclusion: Catatonia needs to be kept in mind as a possibility post-surgery especially by an obstetrician. An overall multidisciplinary approach to catatonia will help in improving effective maternal care. Clinical significance: This case series emphasizes on the significance of early recognition, appropriate evaluation, and targeted management of postpartum psychiatric complications to ensure optimal maternal mental health outcomes.