A 34-year-old mother recently gave birth to a healthy baby at Medcare Hospital Sharjah after experiencing a rare complication in her pregnancy. The woman, Dalel Khalfaoui, had a heterotopic pregnancy, a condition where she had both a normal intrauterine pregnancy and an ectopic pregnancy outside the uterus. During her pregnancy, she faced a twisted fallopian tube, which was discovered late during her pregnancy, prompting her to undergo a diagnostic laparoscopic surgery to save her baby.
Dr. Hala Al Khalidy, a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology who led the procedure, highlighted the rarity of the case, stating that Khalfaoui’s undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy was incredibly rare and only accounted for one to two percent of all ectopic pregnancies. The chronic ectopic pregnancies are typically diagnosed before the 24th week with only a few cases recorded worldwide, none reaching the 31st week. However, Dr. Hala successfully performed the laparoscopic surgery to identify the condition and ensure the safety of both the mother and the baby.
Khalfaoui and her husband had been trying to conceive for five years before successfully becoming pregnant. Throughout the pregnancy, Khalfaoui experienced mild pain that worsened over time, leading to severe abdominal pain in the 31st week, necessitating a visit to the Emergency Room. Despite challenges in diagnosing the cause of the pain through MRI scans, Dr. Hala decided to perform a laparoscopy, which revealed a twisted fallopian tube that had to be removed as it was causing the pain.
Following the successful surgery, Khalfaoui delivered a healthy baby girl weighing three kilograms. Dr. Hala emphasized the importance of the minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery during the late stages of pregnancy, which proved to be a necessary but risky procedure. The mother expressed her gratitude towards the medical team for their care and guidance throughout the process, helping them bring their baby into the world despite the challenges they faced.
In cases of heterotopic pregnancy, a twisted fallopian tube can exacerbate the risks to the mother and the baby by impairing the normal movement of the fertilized egg, increasing the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy. Additionally, reduced blood flow can further compromise the baby’s health. Khalfaoui’s experience sheds light on the complexities and challenges that can arise during pregnancy, highlighting the importance of early detection and appropriate medical intervention to ensure a safe outcome for both mother and baby.
