Tubal pregnancy after total vaginal hysterectomy

Abstract

We report the case of a 26-year-old woman who presented to our emergency department for evaluation of abdominal pain 24 days after a vaginal hysterectomy. The patient's serum pregnancy test was positive. An ectopic pregnancy of the right adnexa was diagnosed by ultrasound and confirmed by laparotomy. The patient recovered uneventfully. Ectopic pregnancy after a total hysterectomy can occur if the fertilized ovum is in the fallopian tube at the time of the hysterectomy or if a fistulous tract exists between the vagina and the ovaries, enabling fertilization to occur. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy after a total hysterectomy is unusual yet must be considered in the presence of intact ovaries to avoid a delay in treatment.