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Author Spotlight: Advancements in Retroperitoneal Approach for Necrotizing Pancreatitis
Published on: March 15, 2024
Retroperitoneal Ectopic Pregnancy
Janie O Pak1, John Keyes Durfee, Lucio Pedro
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, WONDOOR Global Health Fellowship, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Centers, Cleveland, Ohio; the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Guyana, South America; and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Background:
Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancies are rare and have a tendency to implant along major vessels of the abdomen and pelvis. Clinical manifestations can vary from no symptoms to hypovolemic shock and death.
Case:
A 30-year-old woman presented in hypovolemic shock with left flank and abdominal pain after attempting to medically terminate her first-trimester pregnancy. Intraoperative findings revealed normal pelvic organs with a massive retroperitoneal hematoma containing chorionic villi confirmed on histopathology.
Conclusions:
In a woman with a pregnancy of unknown location presenting with worsening flank pain, a retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy must be considered. Prompt diagnosis and management in a low-resource setting presents additional challenges.
