An intrauterine contraceptive device: where did we find it after 29 years of insertion? A case report.

Intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) are one of the most popular and modern means of contraception used worldwide. Some described complications include perforation, infection and ectopic pregnancy. Herein we report an uncommon complication of IUCD: perforation and migration in the terminal ileum. A 56-year-old woman presented to our institution with lower abdominal pain. She had had an IUCD placed 29 years previously. The IUCD was inserted in unsafe conditions since then it was prohibited in Romanian to use any contraception device or pills. The IUCD was placed clandestinely in uncertain condition and could never be checked after. An exploratory laparotomy evidenced the presence of IUCD migrated to terminal ileum. A 56-year-old woman presented to our institution with lower abdominal pain. She had had an IUCD placed 29 years previously. The IUCD was inserted in unsafe conditions since at that time it was prohibited in Romania to use any contraceptive device or pills. The IUCD was placed clandestinely in uncertain condition and a follow-up could not have been performed. An exploratory laparotomy evidenced the presence of IUCD which had migrated to the terminal ileum. This case demonstrates an unusual localisation of an IUCD in the ileum, but the particularity is that we found it after 29 years of its insertion and and the patient had no specific gastrointestinal symptoms.