Document Detail


Ruptured ectopic pregnancy mimicking acute pancreatitis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19548460     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
INTRODUCTION: Ectopic pregnancy may lead to massive haemorrhage, infertility or death. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to save patients who would otherwise die. Serum amylase and lipase measurements are known biochemical markers of pancreatic inflammation and a recognized finding that may help diagnose acute pancreatitis. To the best of our knowledge (Medline, Pubmed, Cochrane Library have been researched) the following study presents the first case of ruptured ectopic pregnancy accompanied by markedly elevated amylase and lipase levels mimicking acute pancreatitis ever reported. CASE REPORT: A previously healthy, nulliparous 35-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a 2-day history of abdominal pain and vomiting. Her last menstrual period was 7 weeks before presentation. At the admission, the patient was hemodynamically stable. The abdomen was soft with tenderness in its mesogastric area. Blood tests revealed markedly elevated activities of the pancreatic enzymes. Acute pancreatitis was the early clinical diagnosis and subsequent therapy was initiated. After 12 hours the condition of the patient suddenly worsened. She was clinically shocked with pallor, hypotension and tachycardia. Laboratory tests revealed anaemia and increased activities of pancreatic enzymes. An ultrasound examination demonstrated an accumulation of intraperitoneal fluid in the pelvis. Subsequently, the patient was subjected to immediate laparotomy. The peritoneal cavity contained large amount of blood. A cystic mass was found and extracted from the ruptured and bleeding right fallopian tube. Histological examination confirmed a rupture of an ectopic pregnancy of a 6-week-old foetus with an intact gestational sac. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged from hospital after 8 days. CONCLUSIONS: Our case proves that a misdiagnosed ruptured ectopic pregnancy in the event of elevated activities of pancreatic enzymes may lead to delayed diagnosis of haemorrhage to peritoneum, resulting in hemodynamic instability.
Authors:
Kryspin Mitura; Mikolaj Romanczuk
Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Ginekologia polska     Volume:  80     ISSN:  0017-0011     ISO Abbreviation:  Ginekol. Pol.     Publication Date:  2009 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-06-24     Completed Date:  2009-08-21     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0374641     Medline TA:  Ginekol Pol     Country:  Poland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  383-5     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of General Surgery, Siedlce Hospital, Siedlce, Poland. chirurgia.siedlce@gmail.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Abdominal Pain / etiology
Abortion, Induced / methods
Acute Disease
Adult
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Pancreatitis / diagnosis
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Ectopic / diagnosis*,  surgery*
Rupture, Spontaneous / diagnosis*,  surgery*
Treatment Outcome

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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