Case report
Full-term abdominal extrauterine pregnancy complicated by post-operative ascites with successful outcome: a case report
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
2 Department of Anaesthesia, Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
3 Department of Paediatrics, Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2013, 7:10 doi:10.1186/1752-1947-7-10
Published: 9 January 2013Abstract
Introduction
Advanced abdominal (extrauterine) pregnancy is a rare condition with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Because the placentation in advanced abdominal pregnancy is presumed to be inadequate, advanced abdominal pregnancy can be complicated by pre-eclampsia, which is another condition with high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis and management of advanced abdominal pregnancy is difficult.
Case presentation
We present the case of a 33-year-old African woman in her first pregnancy who had a full-term advanced abdominal pregnancy and developed gross ascites post-operatively. The patient was successfully managed; both the patient and her baby are apparently doing well.
Conclusion
Because most diagnoses of advanced abdominal pregnancy are missed pre-operatively, even with the use of sonography, the cornerstones of successful management seem to be quick intra-operative recognition, surgical skill, ready access to blood products, meticulous post-operative care and thorough assessment of the newborn.
