Israeli Doctors Save Woman With Rare Liver Ectopic Pregnancy

A rare and life-threatening case of ectopic pregnancy developing in the liver was diagnosed last week at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel. A 40-year-old woman, unaware she was pregnant, sought medical help due to severe abdominal pain, weakness, and shortness of breath. Despite having had her period two weeks earlier, blood tests revealed elevated pregnancy hormone levels, but ultrasound showed an empty uterus. Further imaging identified a gestational sac with a fetal heartbeat in the liver at seven weeks gestation.

Ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tubes. However, implantation in the liver is extremely rare, with only about 47 documented cases worldwide over the past six decades. Doctors believe the fertilized egg initially left the fallopian tube and migrated to the liver, though the exact mechanism remains unclear.

The medical team performed a prompt, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery to remove the pregnancy sac and a small portion of liver tissue, successfully stopping internal bleeding and preserving the rest of the liver. This approach contrasts with many previous cases requiring open surgery, allowing for a faster recovery.

Professor Ron Shagiv, head of the advanced gynecology unit at Wolfson, emphasized the rarity of this condition, noting that ectopic pregnancies occur in 1-2% of pregnancies but over 95% are tubal. The patient, a mother of two, described the diagnosis as shocking and urged women not to ignore unusual pain or symptoms, stressing that early medical attention can save lives.