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  • Title: Ruptured ectopic pregnancy in a patient with a recent intrauterine abortion.
    Author: Nugent PJ.
    Journal: Ann Emerg Med; 1992 Jan; 21(1):97-9. PubMed ID: 1539899.
    Abstract:
    The case of a 33-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain referable to the lower abdomen is discussed. She had had an uncomplicated intrauterine abortive procedure two weeks earlier. It was determined that a ruptured ectopic pregnancy was the etiology of her abdominal pain. The rare phenomenon of combined intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy is discussed. In Ohio, a 33-year old woman who had never had an ectopic pregnancy presented at an emergency facility not physically attached to a hospital with abdominal pain over 24 hours which had become more intense during the preceding 4 hours. She did not have vaginal bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, or pain while urinating. 2 weeks earlier she had a voluntary intrauterine abortion at 8 weeks' gestation. She had intercourse 1 week before coming to the emergency facility. She had widespread tenderness in her abdomen, especially in the lower areas. Blood cell studies suggested an infection. The attending physician presumed her to have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) as a result of either sexual intercourse or the elective abortion. The physician called for a urinary beta human chorionic gonadotropin test to determine whether placental tissue remained in the uterus. It was positive. 60 minutes after admission, the supine patient's pain increased and her blood pressure dropped to 80/50 mm Hg from 100/60 mm Hg at admission. After administering Ringer's solution, the health team sat her up and she fainted. A repeat cell count indicated sepsis. Her blood pressure decreased to 60 by Doppler and the physician continued to give her fluids and began dopamine. After the team stabilized her, they transferred her to a hospital. Her private physician examined her and then began surgery. The physician found a tubal pregnancy and removed the affected tube and ovary. She recuperated completely. Combined intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy occurs once in every 30,000 cases. Previous PID, use of ovulation inducing medication, and in vitro fertilization with embryo transfer increases the likelihood of this type of pregnancy occurring. Physicians should consider this possibility if a woman has any of these histories and a combination of abdominal pain, adnexal mass with pain and tenderness, peritoneal irritation, and an enlarged uterus.
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