title: Surgical management of intra-abdominal mislocated intrauterine devices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report on our experience in surgical treatment of patients with intra-abdominal intrauterine devices (IUDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 10 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Diagnosis was based on gynecologic examination, transvaginal sonography, and abdominal X-ray.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the IUDs were inserted by trained midwives, either in the puerperal period (n=3) or within 1 year after puerperium (n=7). Five women were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis, three were pregnant and two complained of pelvic pain. Eight patients were managed by laparoscopy, whereas laparotomy was required in two. Abscess formation was present in two cases. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A missing string during gynecologic examination is the first sign of an intra-abdominal IUD in all cases. Transvaginal sonography should be combined with abdominal X-ray to reach a definitive diagnosis. Laparoscopic treatment may be appropriate in most of the cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Gevher Nesibe Hospital, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey. mtozgun@erciyes.edu.tr
authors.forename: Mahmut T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ozgun
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Batukan
authors.forename: Ibrahim S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Serin
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozcelik
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basbug
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolanbay
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007433:Intrauterine Device Expulsion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography