Rectal ectopic pregnancy: A case report

Abdominal pregnancy is an extremely rare form of ectopic gestation, and it presents with pelvic pain, severe bleeding, or remain asymptomatic. Its Risk factors include previous ectopic pregnancies, cesarean section, smoking, pelvic inflammatory disease, using intrauterine devices (IUD), and assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs). Accurate diagnosis of rectal ectopic pregnancy remains challenging due to the lack of well-established diagnostic criteria.

A 25-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of unresponsive lower abdominal pain and nausea. Ultrasound imaging revealed a normal-sized uterus with endometrial thickness, fluids, and clots in the abdominal cavity, but no intrauterine gestational sac was detected. Based on the clinical presentation, ectopic pregnancy was suspected. During laparotomy, the placenta and fetal tissue remnants were found on the anterior wall of the upper third of the rectum.

Abdominal ectopic pregnancy is a high-risk condition that can manifest with gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, as well as abdominal and pelvic pain. These variable symptoms underscore the importance of considering rectal ectopic pregnancy as a differential diagnosis and ruling it out to prevent life-threatening complications, including severe bleeding.

Due to its rarity, diverse presentation, and similarity to other conditions, diagnosing rectal ectopic pregnancy and determining the appropriate management can be challenging. Physicians should be aware of this specific type of ectopic pregnancy to enable early-stage diagnosis and provide optimal care.