We present a case of heterotopic pregnancy rapidly diagnosed by an emergency physician. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an emergency physician using bedside ultrasound to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy present simultaneously with an intrauterine pregnancy.

Other unique features of this case include the diagnosis being made on initial evaluation and the patient’s lack of risk factors for heterotopic pregnancy. A review of the cases of heterotopic pregnancy reported in the emergency medicine literature, the rising prevalence of the disease, and factors that may facilitate in making the diagnosis are discussed as well.

Keywords: heterotopic; emergency; ultrasound; ectopic; pregnancy

Reprint Address: Gregory M. Press, md, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas at Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin, JJL 445, Houston, TX, 77030

Gregory M. Press MD, RDMS and Anthony Martinez MD

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas at Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, Memorial Hermann Hospital and Lyndon Baines Johnson Hospital, Houston, Texas
Received 4 August 2006;  revised 2 January 2007;  accepted 5 February 2007.  Available online 30 May 2007.

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