Spontaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy - case report and review of diagnostic and treatment difficulties

Abstract

Introduction. Spontaneous bilateral ectopic pregnancy is a rare condition easily overlooked or misdiagnosed. We present a case of spontaneous bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancy and discuss the difficulties in diagnosing and treating such patients. Case outline. A 39-years-old patient with a history of irregular and abundant menstrual cycles complained of pelvic pain and light bleeding after 55 days of amenorrhea. Ultrasound revealed enlarged uterus with a myoma and a heterogenic formation with echogenic ring sign beside the left ovary. Free fluid with clots was present in the pelvis. As the patient was hemodynamically unstable and ectopic pregnancy was suspected, emergency laparotomy was performed. During the surgery we found that both tubes were significantly edematous, dilated, and livid in their ampullary regions. On the left tube anterior wall rupture 15 × 8 mm was noticeable, while right tube was intact with bleeding from its abdominal ostium. Even though the patient was not informed about the possibility of bilateral salpingectomy, after thorough consideration and due to the extent of tubal damage bilateral salpingectomy was eventually performed. Histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of decidua, partially viable and partially necrotic chorionic villi, and trophoblastic tissue in both right and left tubes. Conclusions. Careful preoperative and intraoperative examination of both Fallopian tubes as well as the whole abdominal and pelvic cavity should be mandatory during every assessment of patients with ectopic pregnancy.

Keywords

• ectopic pregnancy
• bilateral
• spontaneous
• diagnosis
• treatment