title: Asymptomatic ileal perforation of an intrauterine device.
abstract: METHODS
  A 43-year old para three woman had a total abdominal hysterectomy for severe menorrhagia. During the procedure, a copper intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) 'TCu 380A' was found extruding from within the small bowel lumen and partly perforating into the posterior uterine wall. The apparent insertion of the IUD was asymptomatic and she remained asymptomatic for a period of 8 years prior to presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a report of an asymptomatic perforation into the ileum discovered during a hysterectomy after an asymptomatic period of 8 years in situ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6DH, UK. stewartdisu@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Disu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boret
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000473:pathology*; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000601:surgery