Ectopic pregnancy at Riyadh Maternity Hospital: a study of 45 cases

ABSTRACT

Forty-five cases of ectopic pregnancy were reported with an incidence of 1742 pregnancies. Approximately forty percent [40%] of these patients gave positive past history of infertility, pelvic infection or abdominal operation. Eighty-five percent [85%] cases were among gravida 1-5 but nulliparous and grandmultipara were in the low risk group. In 88% of the cases, it was tubal ectopic, with 58.5% in the right fallopian tube. History of amenorrhea and low abdominal pain with tenderness were the presenting features in 95% of cases while vaginal bleeding was reported by 50%. Vaginal examination is singled out as of poor diagnostic value but laparoscopy was the best diagnostic procedure. The medical literature was reviewed in its relevance to the incidence, clinical presentation and aetiology