Spectrum of Ectopic Pregnancies at a Tertiary Care Center of Northern India: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (EP) needs high index of clinical suspicion. If EP is timely diagnosed and timely intervened, i.e., before rupture, it may cause reduction of serious morbidity and mortality. We aimed to analyze the profile of patients of ectopic pregnancies and their outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample for this retrospective cross-sectional study was derived from the database from January 2017 to December 2020. Data from outdoor patient registers, case record files, discharge summaries and hospital admission/discharge registers were screened. Parameters age, parity, risk factors, clinical presentation, per-operative findings, and maternal outcome in terms of morbidity and mortality were assessed. RESULTS: Totally 27,525 deliveries occurred during the study period of 3 years, of which 640 were ectopic pregnancies, i.e., 2.3%. Out of 640, 415 (64.8%) were acute ruptured ectopic pregnancies, 62 (9.6%) were chronic ruptured pregnancies, and 163 (25.4%) patients were unruptured ectopic pregnancies. The mean age was 28.67 years (range: 29.5–27.8). The most common site of rupture was ampullary (54%, 225/415). 14.8% (95/640) of cases were in hemorrhagic shock out of total ectopic patients, and in ruptured group, they comprised 22.8% (95/415). Success for medical management with single-dose methotrexate in our study was 90.2% (147/163). CONCLUSION: Pelvic inflammatory disease and history of induced abortion were found to be the most important etiological factor in ectopic pregnancies. Comprehensive clinical examination is 100% sensitive in diagnosis of EP. In ultrasound, the presence of adnexal mass is the most common finding which is additive to clinical findings and not substitute. Although multiple management options are available, best outcome is attained if management of EP is done at earliest without any delay.