BACKGROUND:

Intrauterine devices are safe and effective contraceptives, although with a risk of uterine perforation if the user is not sufficiently careful and experienced. The incidence of perforation is 1 to 2 cases per thousand insertions.

OBJECTIVE:

Presentation of a case of complete uterine perforation by intrauterine device.

CLINICAL CASE:

27-year-old patient, with a history of two cesarean sections, insertion of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device three months after the last one. At the outpatient clinic she reported pelvic pain, intermenstrual bleeding and two unsuccessful attempts to remove the device. Hysteroscopy showed a probable false pathway and the device was not found in the uterine cavity. The abdominopelvic CT scan located it in the left salpingeal cavity; given the suspicion of a translocated IUD, a laparoscopic procedure was decided, in which the uterus was documented with perforation on the right anterior aspect, with granulation tissue and covered by parietal peritoneum, the IUD in the cul-de-sac, oriented to the left, fixed, with lax adhesions. It was removed and, at the patient’s request, bilateral salpigectomy was performed. Histopathological study report: moderate chronic salpingitis, with fibrosis and simple paratubal serous cysts.

CONCLUSIONS:

Intrauterine devices are remarkably simple, safe and long-lasting contraceptives. In general, there is low morbidity associated with their implantation, even when uterine perforation occurs most patients experience mild symptoms: transvaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain.

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