Diagnosing Emergent Heterotopic Pregnancy via Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Case Report.

Publication/Presentation Date

8-1-2023

Abstract

Patients undergoing assisted reproductive treatments are at a much higher risk for developing heterotopic pregnancy, a rare complication marked by concurrent intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies. Ruptured ectopic pregnancies are one of the leading causes of pregnancy-related mortality. We report the case of a 31-year-old woman undergoing ovulation induction that presented to the emergency department (ED) with worsening abdominal pain. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed in the ED identified a heterotopic pregnancy in which the ectopic gestational sac had ruptured. The patient was immediately taken to the operating room for surgical management without obtaining a formal radiology-performed ultrasound. Nonspecific abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints for patients presenting to the ED. The usage of POCUS allows for rapid visualization of the abdominal cavity to diagnose the underlying cause of a patient's abdominal pain. This case demonstrates that complex etiologies can be reliably visualized and diagnosed without needing to wait for a formal radiology study.

Volume

15

Issue

8

First Page

43663

Last Page

43663

ISSN

2168-8184

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

37719523

Department(s)

Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty, Toxicology Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Faculty, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Students

Document Type

Article

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