Unruptured tubal pregnancy in early second trimester

Abstract

Introduction. Most ectopic pregnancies are tubal pregnancies. They are potentially life-threatening conditions with a high mortality rate if unrecognized. The diagnosis is established when the first warning symptoms occur, or during the first prenatal visits to a gynecologist. The diagnosis in the second trimester is extremely rare, since clinical presentation resulting either from the expulsion of the fetus into the peritoneal cavity or from the tubal rupture is manifested by that time. If there is no rupture or the expulsion of the fetus, the pregnancy is allowed to continue and ectopic pregnancy diagnosis may be established in the second trimester. Case outline. We present a case of a 31-year-old second gravida with a vital intrauterine pregnancy confirmed at the first examination. In the early second trimester, the patient visited her doctor due to vaginal bleeding. After a gynecological examination and ultrasonography, ectopic pregnancy was suspected, so the patient underwent laparotomy. Ectopic pregnancy was confirmed and adnexectomy was performed. Conclusion. Early ultrasound examinations have to confirm whether eutopic pregnancy is present. A misdiagnosis and monitoring of ectopic pregnancy as eutopic one is potentially life-threatening for a pregnant woman.

Keywords

• unruptured pregnancy
• tubal pregnancy
• early second trimester