A case of pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) following orthognathic surgery is described.
A 20-year-old male underwent sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy for mandibular prognathism. Postoperative prophylaxis of antibacterial drugs, aspoxicillin (2g × 2/day for 2 days), cefminox (2 g × 2/day for 4 days), tosufloxacin (100mg × 3/day for 3 days) were administered. On the 9th postoperative day, this patient developed profuse diarrhea with vomitting, high fever, and sore throat. Cefminox (1g × 2/day) was administered for 4 more days, however, the symptoms were aggravated. On the 14th day, endoscopic examination of the large intestine was performed. Based on macroscopic findings, a diagnosis of PMC was made. Clostridium difficile was not found in the stool culture. The treatment was started immediately with oral vancomycin (500mg × 4/day for 14 days) . The symptoms were alleviated 6 days later by administering other antibiotics. This patient was discharged on the 25th day and remained well with no recurrence of PMC.