Ectopic pregnancy as general surgical emergency

ABSTRACT

A prospective evaluation of 17 patients of ectopic pregnancy presenting in the general surgical emergency over a period of four years is presented. Mean age of the patients was 22.6 years. Presenting complaints included sudden, severe abdominal pain and features of syncope. History of ammenorrhoea was present in 13 patients. 15 patients were married and two unmarried who denied history of contact. 13 patients had tachycardia. All had tenderness, rebound tenderness and muscle guard. 13 out of 15 patients examined had adnexal tenderness. 5 out of 9 patients had positive results on culdocentesis. Routine investigations were within normal limits. 15 patients had involvement of right tube and 2 patients left tube. Salpingectomy was the mode of management in all patients. In 7 patients it was combined with appendicectomy. A very low incidence of post operative complications was found. There was 1 death in the series. Mean hospital stay was 6 days. A number of risk factors were elucidated which predispose to tubal pregnancy. Emergency surgeon dealing with the general surgical cases should keep this possibility in mind if sudden abdominal pain and the features of shock are seen in a female during reproductive age