A Case Report in the Third Trimester Pregnancy: Ovarian Torsion, A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen
Ozer Cora Ayfer,
Uzun Navdar Dogus*, Uzun Fulya, Terzi
Hasan
Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Kocaeli Derince Training and Research
Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey
*Corresponding author: Navdar Dogus Uzun, Obstetrics and
Gynecology Clinic, Kocaeli Derince Education and Research Hospital, Kocaeli,
Turkey. Tel: +90-5365485145; Email: duzun35@hotmail.com
Received Date: 03 October, 2018;
Accepted Date: 12 October, 2018; Published Date: 22 October, 2018
Citation: Ayfer OC, Dogus UN, Fulya U, Hasan T (2018) A Case Report in the Third Trimester Pregnancy: Ovarian Torsion, A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen. Ann Case Rep: ACRT-207. DOI: 10.29011/2574-7754/100207
1. Abstract
A 32-year-old, 34 week pregnant woman was admitted to our emergency clinic with right lower quadrant pain. Adnexal regions and the appendix could not be visualized on the ultrasound. Because of the persistent acute abdominal pain, laparotomy was performed. Right adnexal peduncle was observed to have been twisted 3 times and appendix was normal. Salpingo-oophorectomy was performed due to necrosis of the right ovary. The follow up patient was examined regularly. Caesarean section was performed due to detected uterine contractions in the 38 weeks.
2.
Introduction
Ovarian
torsion refers to the complete or partial rotation of the ovary on its
ligamentous supports, which often leads to an impedance of its blood supply [1]. Adnexal torsion during pregnancy is very rare and
the incidence is reported to be in the range of 0,01-0,05 per hundred [2]. It occurs in all three trimesters, but is most
common in the first trimester. Risk factors include the presence of an ovarian
cyst or mass (Especially Mature Cystic Teratomas) and induction of ovulation [3]. Torsion is the fifth most common surgical
emergency but, due to infrequent incidence of adnexal torsion, recognition or
suspicion of this pathology can be delayed.
3.
Case
Report
A 32
years old woman with 34 weeks 4 days of gestation was admitted to our emergency
unit with abdominal pain. Gravida 3, parity 2 woman had two previous caesarean
sections. She had a history of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and was using
colchicine twice a day. The patient described a pain only in the right lower
part of the abdomen, which was different from her FMF attacks. In physical
examination, abdominal tenderness and rebound were present on the right lower
quadrant of the abdomen. Obstetric ultrasonography revealed a vertex presenting
fetus with normal fetal anatomic measurements and normal amniotic fluid.
Placenta was observed on the anterior wall of uterus in a natural appearance.
In adnexal regions, no gross pathology could be detected. In digital vaginal
examination, there was no cervical dilatation. Cervix length was measured as 35
mm in transvaginal ultrasonography. Toco trace and uterine palpations were
unable to detect any uterine contractions. According to these findings, preterm
labor was not considered in the patient.
Her laboratory findings were; Hgb: 9.4 g/dl, Htc: 28.7%, Plt: 215.000/mm3, WBC: 15.500/mm3. The consultant internal medicine doctor
didn’t think there was FMF attack in the physical examination and anamneses.
The physical examination performed by the consultant general surgeon indicated
an acute abdominal pain and his prediagnosis was acute appendicitis. Laparotomy
was performed because the patient was thought to have an acute surgical
abdomen. Laparotomy revealed that the right adnexal peduncle was rotated three
times. Right adnex was observed to be enlarged edematous and congested, which
indicated for torsion and infarction of the ovary and fallopian tube (Figure 1).
Appendix
was observed as normal. Salpingo-oopherectomy was performed due to the necrotic
nature of the adnex.
Pathology
report confirmed the diagnosis of dermoid cyst, torsion and necrotic regions in
the ovary. Scanning of fetal heart trace was normal and no uterine contractions
after the operation. The patient was discharged on the fourth day after the operation.
The follow up patient was examined every week. Caserean section was performed
because of detected uterine contractions on the 38 weeks. A healthy 2700 g girl
baby was born with Apgar scores of 8 and 9.
4.
Discussion
In
pregnancy adnexal torsion is a rare case presenting with acute onset of
moderate to severe pelvic pain (%90), nausea-vomiting (%47-70), low grade fever
(%2-20), leukocytosis (this finding is usually obscured by physiologic mild
leukocytosis in pregnant cases), or adnexal mass (%86-95) [4]. Fever could be a symptom of adnexal necrosis,
especially in the setting of leukocytosis.
Ovarian
mass formation is the primary risk factor for ovarian torsion when the mass is
5 cm in diameter or larger [5,6]. Compared to
the larger masses, ovarian masses 6 to 8 cm in diameter may undergo torsion.
However, rarely like in this case small ovarian masses can cause ovarian
torsion. 60% of the cases are diagnosed between 10th
and 17th weeks of gestation and
nearly 30% of these cases are related to mature cystic teratomas [7]. The incidence of adnexal torsion in the third
trimester may not be detected due to its rareness.
When
compared to the left, the right ovary appears to be more likely to torse. It is
because the right utero-ovarian ligament is longer than the left and the
presence of the sigmoid colon in the left side of the colon may help to prevent
torsion [8]. It is also more likely confused
with acute appendicitis in pregnancy. Approaching an acute surgical abdomen
during pregnancy is a difficult decision for the clinician because abdominal
surgery in pregnancy poses risk for both mother and fetus. Gynecologists must
evaluate the patient’s medical history, ultrasonography and laboratory
findings. Although these studies can predict the adnexal torsion, physical
examination and suspicion are the key points.
For
patients with suspected ovarian torsion, ultrasonography is the preliminary
imaging examination choice which reveals increase in ovarian size because of
congestion. It could also demonstrate ovarian stromal heterogeneity, abnormal
ovarian location, multiple small peripheral follicles (String of Pearls) and
decreased or absent Doppler flow within the ovary. Doppler ultrasonography can
be utilized to determine torsion although the presence of blood flow does not
reduce the possibility of it. Abnormal Doppler flow has a sensitivity and specificity
of 43 and 92 percent [9]. Direct visualization
of a rotated ovary at the time of surgical evaluation is the exact diagnosis of
ovarian torsion.
Management
of torsion in pregnancy is similar to that in nonpregnant patients, but may be
technically more difficult due to the size of the gravid uterus. In ovarian
torsion, the key factor is to perform detorsion as quickly
as
possible. We recommend detorsion and ovarian conservation rather than
salpingo-oophorectomy in viable cases. But in our case, ovary and tube were not
in its normal anatomical structure and had a friable consistency in gross
inspection (ovarian and tubal necrosis), so we performed salpingo-oopherectomy.
Studies have confirmed the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic management
of torsion in the first and second trimester pregnancy [10,11].
Figure 1: Edematous right adnexal peduncle was twisted three
times.