Puerperal presentation of a living abdominal pregnancy
Crabtree, K.E.; Collet, B.; Kilpatrick, S.J.
Obstetrics and Gynecology 84(4 Pt 2): 646-648
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-7844 PMID: 9205434 Document Number: 430403
Background: Abdominal and heterotopic pregnancies appear to be increasing in incidence. Case: We report a case of puerperal presentation of a living heterotopic pregnancy in an African woman. The patient presented 6 days postpartum with fever and abdominal pain. The correct diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy was not considered, and for 9 days she was treated for presumed puerperal sepsis. It was only upon abdominal x-ray that the diagnosis was made. The patient underwent laparotomy with delivery of a living male neonate weighing 2000 g. He subsequently died of respiratory failure on day 3 of life. Conclusion: Although still rare, the increasing incidence of abdominal pregnancies in both developed and developing countries mandates awareness of this diagnosis, particularly in pregnant or postpartum women presenting with abdominal pain.