Abdominal pregnancy: review of current management and addition of 10 cases

Ten cases of abdominal pregnancy managed at the Brookdale Hospital Medical Center over a 17-year period are presented. An incidence of 1 abdominal pregnancy in 7095 deliveries occurred in this series; another institution reported 1 in 7931. A perinatal mortality rate of 80% and no maternal mortality in the study are contrasted to rates of 75 to 95% and 2 to 18%, respectively, from the world literature. Recurrent abdominal pain in the gravid patient with a prior history of infertility, tubal pregnancy, and/or surgery may signal abdominal pregnancy. Similarly, the management of fetal death should include consideration of the presence of abdominal pregnancy. The role of ultrasonography in diagnosis and the importance of immediate surgical intervention with minimal disturbance of the placenta are stressed.