Abdominal Pregnancy: Challenges in Recognition and Diagnosis in the Emergency Department

An abdominal pregnancy (AP) is a unique type of ectopic pregnancy that occurs when the embryo implants within the peritoneal cavity. It is an obstetrical emergency that can be fatal to both the mother and the fetus. Being able to identify such an occurrence in the emergency department requires physicians to understand certain risk factors and clinical findings and appreciate diagnostic challenges. This report discusses the case of a young female who presented with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding in what was believed to be an intrauterine pregnancy and later discovered to be an AP. It also highlights the differences in presentation of such cases as well as barriers that may impede diagnosis.