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Volume 12 Issue 3 ( July-September ) 2023

Original Articles

An overview of ectopic pregnancy in tertiary care center
Dr. Shital T. Mehta, Dr. Silkey V. Mittal, Dr. Dhwani R. Rawal, Dr. Bina M. Raval, Dr. Dhruvi Patel R. Patel, Dhairya T. Mehta, Dr. Devang A. Rana

BACKGROUND--Ectopic pregnancy is a devastating complication of human reproduction, with a global incidence of 1.5-2%. It poses the highest burden on maternal morbidity and mortality during the first trimester, ranging from 3.5% to 7.1%. Ectopic pregnancy jeopardizes a woman's life and future fertility by causing damage to the fallopian tubes and/or ovaries. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES--This study aimed to investigate the demographic characteristics, risk factors, clinical features, management approaches, morbidity, and mortality associated with ectopic pregnancy. METHODS--The study was conducted retrospectively at a tertiary care hospital in Ahmedabad, Western India, between August 2021 and March 2023. It included 36 women diagnosed with ectopic pregnancies. Detailed computerized records of these patients, who were admitted for ectopic pregnancy management, were analyzed after obtaining the necessary permissions. The study recorded the patients' medical history, clinical features, vital data, and findings from general, abdominal, and vaginal examinations. Previous pelvic pathology, pelvic surgery, and infertility treatments were also considered. The analysis focused on the diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancies. RESULTS--The main age group of presentation was 26-30 years, and the majority of patients (55.56%) were in their second pregnancy. The most common risk factors were a history of previous ectopic pregnancy (27.78%) and previous pelvic inflammatory disease (22.22%). Amenorrhea (61.11%) and abdominal pain (63.89%) were the most frequently reported symptoms. Signs of shock were observed in 5 out of 36 patients, all of whom were diagnosed with ruptured ectopic pregnancies. Abdominal tenderness (47.22%), guarding (11.11%), and cervical motion tenderness (68.9%) were significantly associated with ruptured ectopic pregnancies. Among the cases, 55.56% were ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancies, 33.33% were unruptured tubal ectopic pregnancies, and 8.33% were cesarean scar pregnancies. Medical management using methotrexate treatment was administered to 11.11% of patients. CONCLUSION--It is crucial to consider ectopic pregnancy as a potential diagnosis in women of reproductive age presenting with lower abdominal pain, regardless of the presence or absence of amenorrhea or history of sterilization. Early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, through early-stage ultrasound scans and beta hCG tests, is important to prevent maternal morbidity and mortality. Timely intervention can significantly reduce the incidence of complications and improve outcomes.

 
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