scholarly journals Can I Be Pregnant? – Diagnostic Challenges in Ruptured Chronic Ectopic Pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-308
Author(s):  
Bhasyani Nagaretnam ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Acute Abdomen ◽  
Free Fluid ◽  
Operation Theatre ◽  
Pregnancy Test ◽  
Obstetric Emergency ◽  
Child Bearing ◽  
Urine Pregnancy Test

Ectopic pregnancy is an obstetric emergency which accounts for 4% of all pregnancy-related deaths. All women of child bearing age with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding presenting to the Emergency Department should be evaluated for ectopic pregnancy. However, there have been many reported cases of diagnostic challenges of ectopic pregnancy. One rare variant of ectopic pregnancy that can be easily overlooked is chronic ectopic pregnancy. We present this case of a 39-yearold female, who presented with acute abdomen and free fluid in her abdomen. Urine pregnancy test indicated she was not pregnant. However, intraoperative findings confirmed left tubular pregnancy. We would like to highlight three major diagnostic challenges we faced in this case i.e.; (i) women of child bearing age with abdominal pain should always be evaluated for ectopic pregnancy; (ii) diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy should not be dismissed even though the pregnancy test is negative; and (iii) the role of computed tomography (CT) scan in acute abdomen of unclear aetiology. As a rule, all haemodynamically unstable acute abdomen should be sent to the operation theatre. Haemodynamically stable patients should be carefully evaluated to facilitate surgical management.

scholarly journals A life-threatening condition – ruptured ectopic pregnancy with negative urine pregnancy test: A case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-123
Author(s):  
Fadzilah Mohamad ◽  
Ahmad Shuib Yahya ◽  
Aneesa Abdul Rashid ◽  
Navin Kumar Devaraj ◽  
Abdul Hadi Abdul Manap
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Rare Occurrence ◽  
Pregnancy Test ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Rule Out ◽  
Urine Pregnancy Test

Ectopic pregnancy is an extra-uterine pregnancy and is a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to death from intra-peritoneal hemorrhage. This case reports a rare occurrence of ruptured tubal pregnancy in which the patient presented early with abdominal pain and a negative urine pregnancy test but subsequently presented again with evidence of intra-peritoneal hemorrhage. A negative urine pregnancy test is often used to rule out pregnancy, but it is not 100% sensitive. Complete assessment is critical in this important diagnosis in order to plan for the appropriate emergency management.

scholarly journals Role of emergency physician–performed ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-86
Author(s):  
Nalan Kozaci ◽  
Mustafa Avci ◽  
Gul Tulubas ◽  
Ertan Ararat ◽  
Omer Faruk Karakoyun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Emergency Physician ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Acute Abdominal Pain ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Final Diagnosis ◽  
Free Fluid ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Abdominal Ultrasonography

Objectives: This prospective study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of bedside point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography performed by emergency physician in patients with non-traumatic acute abdominal pain. Methods: The patients, who were admitted to emergency department due to abdominal pain, were included in this study. The emergency physician obtained a routine history, physical examination, blood draws, and ordered diagnostic imaging. After the initial clinical examinations, all the patients underwent ultrasonography for abdominal pathologies by emergency physician and radiologist, respectively. Point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography compared with abdominal ultrasonography performed by radiologist as the gold standard. Results: The study included 122 patients. Gallbladder and appendix pathologies were the most commonly detected in the abdominal ultrasonography. Compared with abdominal ultrasonography, point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography was found to have 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity in gallbladder pathologies; 91% sensitivity and 91% specificity in acute appendicitis; 79% sensitivity and 97% specificity in abdominal free fluid; 83% sensitivity and 96% specificity in ovarian pathologies. Compared to final diagnosis, preliminary diagnoses of emergency physicians were correct in 92 (75.4%) patients. Conclusion: This study showed that emergency physicians were successful in identifying abdominal organ pathologies with point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography after training.

Early pregnancy care

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Caesarean Section ◽  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Fallopian Tube ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Vaginal Bleeding ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Pregnancy Test ◽  
Assessment Task ◽  
Urine Pregnancy Test

This task assesses the following clinical skills: … ● Patient safety ● Communication with patients and their relatives ● Information gathering ● Applied clinical knowledge … You are an ST4 doctor covering Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU). You have been asked to see 24- year- old Jaz Pringle in her third pregnancy. Her LMP was six weeks ago and has presented with left iliac fossa pain and light vaginal bleeding. Your task is: … ● To take a focussed history ● Organize the necessary investigations ● Discuss the results and diagnosis with Jaz ● Agree a management plan … You have 10 minutes for this task (+ 2mins initial reading time). This is a communication skills clinical assessment task that tests the candidate’s skills to take a focussed history, interpret and explain results and agree to a management plan having discussed the options. If they ask for the urine pregnancy test, tell them it is positive. If they arrange an ultrasound, provide them with the following result. ‘An empty uterus and a 2.3cm left sided adnexal mass with well- defined gestational sac medial to the left ovary with minimal fluid in pouch of Douglas. Right ovary appeared normal. Findings are highly suggestive of left sided tubal pregnancy’. If they organize beta HCG, tell them the nurse had sent it and the result is back and it is 2900IU/ml. Record your overall clinical impression of the candidate for each domain (e.g. should this performance be pass, borderline, or a fail). You are Ms. Jaz Pringle, a 24- year- old housewife who lives with her partner of four years. You have one child delivered by caesarean section for breech (bottom first) presentation three years ago. You had developed infection post caesarean section and were very unwell. You had needed admission to the hospital for 10 days and needed IV antibiotics. This was followed by an ectopic pregnancy 18 months ago whereby you ended up having key hole surgery and removal of your right fallopian tube with ectopic pregnancy. While you have not been actively trying for another pregnancy, you and your partner are happy with the thought of another pregnancy. However, you attended hospital due to some discomfort on the left side of the tummy and some vaginal bleeding on and off for two days. You are otherwise fit and well with no allergies. The candidate should arrange a urine pregnancy test, which will be positive. They should then organize a scan in the EPAU. The scan will suggest an ectopic pregnancy in your right tube. You are now extremely upset and anxious after the scan at the thought of possibly losing the only remaining tube and being rendered infertile. You want to know all possible options and would like to save the only fallopian tube if possible.

A positive urine pregnancy test (UPT) with adnexal mass; ectopic pregnancy is not the ultimate diagnosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Faizal Ahmad ◽  
Muhammad Azrai Abu ◽  
Kah Teik Chew ◽  
Kun Leng Sheng ◽  
Mohd Asyraf Zakaria
Keyword(s):  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Adnexal Mass ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Pregnancy Test ◽  
First Case ◽  
Positive Urine ◽  
Disease Free ◽  
Urine Pregnancy Test

Abstract A positive urine pregnancy test (UPT) with adnexal mass in ectopic pregnancy is not the ultimate diagnosis. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy is about 27 per 1000 pregnancies [1]. On average, about 6–16% will present to an emergency department with first-trimester bleeding and abdominal pain [2]. On presenting with these symptoms with the simultaneous presence of an adnexal mass and an empty uterus, a UPT is of paramount importance to determine whether the symptoms are pregnancy related or not. When the UPT is positive, an ectopic pregnancy is not the only diagnosis as the rare entity of non-gestational ovarian choriocarcinoma (NGOC) should be considered. Here we present two case reports of NGOC, which were initially diagnosed as ectopic pregnancy. The first case is a 16-year-old girl, with vaginal bleeding and an adnexal mass due to an ovarian choriocarcinoma, She underwent unilateral oophorectomy and received multiple courses of chemotherapy. She is disease free without evidence of recurrence or metastasis after 12 months of follow-up. The second patient is also 16 years old and presented with an acute abdomen. She was diagnosed as a ruptured luteal cyst and underwent partial oophorectomy. When the pathologist diagnosed a choriocarcinoma she received multiple courses of chemotherapy, but thereafter an advanced disease was diagnosed with evidence of distant metastasis.

scholarly journals Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy with a Negative Urine Pregnancy Test

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-98
Author(s):  
Mallory Hughes ◽  
Andrew Lupo ◽  
Adrianne Browning
Keyword(s):  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Pregnancy Test ◽  
Urine Pregnancy Test

scholarly journals ACUTE ABDOMEN systemic sonographic approach to acute abdomen in emergency department: a case series

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Al Ali ◽  
Sarah Jabbour ◽  
Salma Alrajaby
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Acute Abdomen ◽  
Patient Management ◽  
Physical Exam ◽  
Bedside Ultrasound ◽  
Free Fluid ◽  
Bowel Loop ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Diagnosis And Management ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Acute abdomen is a medical emergency with a wide spectrum of etiologies. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can help in early identification and management of the causes. The ACUTE–ABDOMEN protocol was created by the authors to aid in the evaluation of acute abdominal pain using a systematic sonographic approach, integrating the same core ultrasound techniques already in use—into one mnemonic. This mnemonic ACUTE means: A: abdominal aortic aneurysm; C: collapsed inferior vena cava; U: ulcer (perforated viscus); T: trauma (free fluid); E: ectopic pregnancy, followed by ABDOMEN which stands: A: appendicitis; B: biliary tract; D: distended bowel loop; O: obstructive uropathy; Men: testicular torsion/Women: ovarian torsion. The article discusses two cases of abdominal pain the diagnosis and management of which were directed and expedited as a result of using the ACUTE–ABDOMEN protocol. The first case was of a 33-year-old male, who presented with a 3-day history of abdominal pain, vomiting and constipation. Physical exam revealed a soft abdomen with generalized tenderness and normal bowel sounds. Laboratory tests were normal. A bedside ultrasound done using the ACUTE–ABDOMEN protocol showed signs of intussusception. This was confirmed by CT-abdomen. The second case was of a 70-year-old female, a known case of diabetes and hypertension, who presented with a 3-hour history of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. She had a normal physical exam and laboratory studies. Her symptoms mimicking simple gastroenteritis had improved. However, bedside ultrasound, using the ACUTE–ABDOMEN protocol showed localized free fluid with dilated small bowel loop in right lower quadrant with absent peristalsis. A CT abdomen confirmed a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. These two cases demonstrate that the usefulness of applying POCUS in a systematic method—like the “ACUTE–ABDOMEN” approach—can aid in patient diagnosis and management. Case presentation We are presenting two cases of undifferentiated acute abdomen pain, where ACUTE ABDOMEN sonographic approach was applied and facilitated the accurate patient management and disposition. Conclusion ACUTE ABDOMEN sonographic approach in acute abdomen can play an important role in ruling out critical diagnosis, and can guide emergency physician or any critical care physician in patient management.

scholarly journals Laparoscopy in acute abdomen between encouragement and inhibition

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 3507
Author(s):  
Mena Zarif Helmy ◽  
Ahmed Abdel Kahaar Aldardeer
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Acute Abdomen ◽  
Acute Abdominal Pain ◽  
Past History ◽  
Abdominal Distension ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Main Complaint ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
History Of

Background: Laparoscopy has been a valuable technique in the treatment of acute abdominal diseases and can be considered either to diagnose or to treat selected cases.Methods: Here, we randomly select patients with acute abdominal pain in whom the diagnosis was not clear after ultrasonography and plain X-ray, we did diagnostic laparoscopy and according to its findings, we proceeded to surgical intervention. 50 cases with acute abdomen were included in this study in order to clarify the role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of acute abdomen.Results: From the 50 patients, the main complaint was abdominal pain and presented in (100%) of patients, 38 of patients had vomiting, fever in 29 patients and 14 patients had abdominal distension, 7 patients had alteration in bowel habits and burning micturition in 6 patients. In this study, 10 patients had past history of previous surgery. By laparoscopy we could see the pathology in 46 patients and complete the management in all of patients but failed to reach the diagnosis in 2 cases and conversion to laparotomy in other 2 cases. Laparoscopic surgery mean was 47.9±12.4 minutes. Hospital stay mean was (1.851) days. Morbidity was 10%. No mortality was found in our study.Conclusions: Laparoscopy can be considered safe for diagnosis and effective in the treatment of patients with acute abdomen. It may be useful to avoid the unnecessary laparotomies in a large number of patients presented with acute abdominal pain.

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