The challenge in the diagnosis and management of an advanced abdominal pregnancy in a resource-low setting: a case report

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy that is frequently left undiagnosed by inexperienced obstetricians and radiologists. It is associated with higher risk of maternal hemorrhage at any gestation and more at advanced gestation. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 22-year-old sub-Saharan African woman, gravida 3 para 0, who was diagnosed with advanced abdominal pregnancy of 25 weeks’ gestation by a transvaginal ultrasound after the failure of two medical terminations of pregnancy in the first and second trimesters and a series of repeated obstetric ultrasounds showing intrauterine pregnancy. Laparotomy was done and her recovery was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: The management of advanced abdominal pregnancy is more challenging as compared to earlier gestation so patients with failed medical termination of pregnancy should be critically analyzed for ectopic pregnancy as early as possible.