Laparoscopic removal of an intraperitoneal translocated intrauterine contraceptive device

Abstract

The use of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) is often accompanied by various complications, the perforation of the uterus constituting the most dangerous. Here we report the case of a patient who complained of abdominal pains. She had had an IUD inserted 15 months previously. Three months later, as she could no longer see the IUD strings at the external os of the cervix, she underwent pelvic ultrasonography, which did not show the IUD in the uterine cavity. A diagnosis of expulsion of the IUD was made. A few months later, the patient accidentally became pregnant, and decided to have an abortion. From that time on, she started to complain of the above-mentioned symptoms. She had an abdominal X-ray which revealed the IUD in the abdominal cavity. She then underwent a laparoscopic removal of the translocated IUD.