Tubo-ovarian abscesses can rupture spontaneously after a manual examination or an accidental trauma. A critically ill patient with septic peritonitis will only deteriorate if timely surgical removal of pus is not done. The operation of choice is removal of free pus, together with the abscess, the uterus, the tubes and usually, the ovaries. Anatomy is distorted, dependable landmarks are obscured and tissues are thick and oedematous. Loops of densely adhered intestine are difficult to separate. If an intra peritoneal approach is used, it is likely that the fragments of ovary will be left behind. This can subsequently cause signs and symptoms of ovarian remnant syndrome. Injury to the serosa of distended bowel occurs inadvertently, thus increasing the morbidity which results from the procedure. We are hereby presenting a unique case of a ruptured tubo-ovarian abscess where a retroperitoneal approach was used.
Keywords: Pelvic inflammatory disease; Retroperitoneal; Ruptured; Tubo-ovarian abscess.