Abdominal pregnancy in a low-resource setting
Lee, C.
Obstetrics and Gynecology 125(5): 1039-1041
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 1873-233X PMID: 25932830 DOI: 10.1097/aog.0000000000000706Document Number: 626369
Abdominal pregnancies are rare types of ectopic pregnancies with high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity when encountered anywhere in the world. Combining such high-risk pregnancy with the limitations found in a low-resource setting can lead to increased complications, which can be more difficult to manage. A 21-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 1001, at 36 weeks of gestation presented with a complicated abdominal pregnancy in Cameroon. The patient was followed through multiple complicated surgeries and medical treatments, including chemotherapy, until final resolution and complete recovery. This case highlights known complications of advanced abdominal pregnancy, including blood loss and infection. It also emphasizes limitations within the low-resource setting, which can independently add to the patient's morbidity and complicate management, and demonstrates examples of approaches that can be used aid management decisions within low-resource areas.