Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy with an Intrauterine Device: Case Report and Sonographic Considerations

Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2020 Nov;4(4):559-563. doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2020.7.48258.

Abstract

Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy carries a high morbidity and mortality; patients are at risk for rupture and life-threatening hemorrhage.

Case report: We present a rare case of ruptured abdominal ectopic pregnancy in a patient with a well-positioned intrauterine device (IUD) and discuss the diagnostic utility that transabdominal point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can have when performed at the bedside.

Conclusion: While pregnancy with an IUD in place is rare, when it is encountered the emergency provider should maintain a high degree of suspicion for extrauterine pregnancy and perform prompt evaluation for hemorrhagic shock using diagnostic POCUS.