Intrauterine Device and Intestinal Injury: Need for Introspection

Abstract

Intestinal injury following uterine perforation is a serious complication of intrauterine device (IUD) application. It can be in the form of obstruction, perforation or ischemia leading to stricture or fistulae formation. Perforation commonly involves sigmoid colon followed by the small intestine and rectum. Acute complications like peritonitis may occur sometimes leading to death. These complications commonly occur during insertion. Very rarely it may occur during the IUD removal. We are reporting an unusual case of small intestinal (ileum) injury during IUD removal leading to peritonitis.