Uncommon location of persistent ectopic pregnancy following laparoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic surgery has become an important tool in the treatment of tubal pregnancy. Skillful operative technique should prevent tissue spread and thus avoid persistence of ectopic trophoblastic cells.

CASE: A laparotomy with complete salpingectomy was performed in a patient with rising serum hCG levels after a previous laparoscopic partial salpingectomy for ampullary tubal pregnancy. The only residual trophoblastic tissue found was an implant in the abdominal wall at the site of auxiliary puncture.

CONCLUSION

Extra-abdominal dispersion of active trophoblastic cells may lead to increasing hCG levels, mimicking persistent tubal pregnancy.