Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine (Nov 2020)

Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy with an Intrauterine Device: Case Report and Sonographic Considerations

  • Derick D. Jones,
  • Tobias Kummer,
  • Jessica C. Schoen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5811/cpcem.2020.7.48258
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 4

Abstract

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Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy carries a high morbidity and mortality; patients are at risk for rupture and life-threatening hemorrhage. Case Report: We present a rare case of ruptured abdominal ectopic pregnancy in a patient with a well-positioned intrauterine device (IUD) and discuss the diagnostic utility that transabdominal point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can have when performed at the bedside. Conclusion: While pregnancy with an IUD in place is rare, when it is encountered the emergency provider should maintain a high degree of suspicion for extrauterine pregnancy and perform prompt evaluation for hemorrhagic shock using diagnostic POCUS.