Outcome of Management of 5 Cases of Abdominal Pregnancies

Abstract

Abdominal pregnancies are rare; however, they are still frequently missed pre-operatively. This presents diagnostic and treatment dilemma especially in resource-constrained settings where CT-scan and MRI are not readily available for accurate diagnosis. Five cases of abdominal pregnancies were managed over an eighteen-year period. In 2 cases, the condition was diagnosed preoperatively. The age range of the patients was from 32 to 36 years with a mean of 32.4 years. All 5 patients recovered fully; 4 required at least 2 units of blood transfusion; the placenta was left behind in 1 case; 1 required methotrexate to enhance placental resorption. One patient had recurrent intestinal obstruction and eventually had laparotomy and release of thick bands of adhesion. Two patients had conceived at least once each following treatment. Abdominal pregnancies present serious diagnostic and management dilemma especially in low resource settings. A high index of suspicion and prompt laparotomy can be life-saving. There is little information known about future fertility after abdominal pregnancy.