Laparoscopic resection of a salpingectomy stump remnant during early pregnancy: the diagnostic challenge posed in diagnosing a heterotopic stump pregnancy

Abstract

In this report, we present a case of a woman admitted in her first trimester of pregnancy with significant intraperitoneal haemorrhage from a left tubal stump remnant occurring concurrent to a viable intrauterine pregnancy. The patient was resuscitated and treated successfully with laparoscopic removal of her stump remnant to achieve haemostasis. However, despite extensive investigation, the pathology of her haemorrhagic stump remained inconclusive. Stump ectopic pregnancy is an established phenomenon, although it presents a diagnostic challenge when occurring as a heterotopic pregnancy. Further, persisting trophoblastic tissue is a rare but established feature of incomplete removal of ectopic pregnancy post salpingectomy. Here, we discuss challenges of diagnosis in such cases and present a case report of a presumed stump remnant heterotopic pregnancy from spontaneous conception.