Is ectopic pregnancy possible after hysterectomy?

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether ectopic pregnancy should be suspected in young women with abdominal pain even after hysterectomy.

Design: Case report.

Setting: The patient presenting with abdominal pain in the emergency department was referred to a tertiary care center.

Patient(s): A young woman who had had a subtotal hysterectomy 3 years prior for atonic postpartum hemorrhage during her last caesarean section presented with acute abdominal pain.

Intervention(s): Urgent ultrasound showed a gestational sac of 9 weeks + 3 days. Emergency laparotomy was done for suspected ectopic pregnancy.

Main outcome measure(s): Ultrasound, operative findings, and histopathology.

Result(s): Tubal ectopic pregnancy was confirmed on laparotomy and histopathology.

Conclusion(s): Early suspicion can avoid missing early and treatable ectopic gestation before life-threatening complications develop.