Publication:

A clinical study of ectopic pregnancy

Background The diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy is usually unexpected and is often emotionally traumatic. Many women may have only recently discovered they were pregnant when they receive the diagnosis. Some women diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy do not even know they are pregnant and suddenly must think about the possibility of major surgery or medical treatment. The present study involves a study on all the cases of ectopic pregnancy who were admitted to the Princess Esra Hospital, Deccan College of medical sciences, Hyderabad during November 2014 to October 2015. The objectives of the study were, 1. To know the age group, gravidity, parity and the risk factors with respect to the ectopic pregnancy. 2. To know the clinical presentation of the ectopic pregnancy. 3. To know the outcome of the ectopic pregnancy.

Methods A total of 62 patients who were diagnosed as ectopic pregnancy cases were analyzed. All these cases were analyzed after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria with respect to the 1. History. 2. Clinical presentation. 3. Investigations. 4. Treatment.

Results The incidence of the ectopic pregnancy in the present study was 1:380 pregnancies. A majority of the cases were multigravidas. Pain abdomen, amenorrhoea and bleeding per vagina in at least 50% of the cases. The tube was ruptured in almost 80% of the cases and there was a haemoperitoneum. Almost all the patients had intraoperative and/ or postoperative blood transfusions. There was no significant post operative morbidity in these cases.

Conclusions The early diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy is one of the greatest challenges for a physician. It requires a high index of suspicion to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy. The importance of an early diagnosis lies in the fact that the lady can be offered a conservative line of management which can definitely have a beneficial effect on her reproductive career.