Abdominal ectopic pregnancy complicated with a large bowel injury: a case report

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pregnancy accounts for 0.6 to 4% of all ectopic pregnancies. Due to delays in diagnosis and difficulties in the management of abdominal pregnancy, the risk of mortality is significantly higher than for uncomplicated ectopic pregnancies. A 23 years-old gravida-II, ectopic-I Ethiopian woman was initially managed as a case of missed second trimester abortion. Later on, abdominal ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed with ultrasound and she underwent a laparotomy. Though fetus and placenta was removed successfully without significant hemorrhage, there was inadvertent sigmoid colon injury. CONCLUSION: In the management of abdominal ectopic pregnancy, the possibility of bowel injury during entry to the abdominal cavity at laparotomy should always be considered and an experienced general surgeon should always be in attendance before opening the abdomen, to prevent it from happening.