Ectopic Pregnancy: Sites of Implantation, Predisposing Factors, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Management

A short obstetric note defining ectopic pregnancy as one in which the products of conception develop outside the uterine cavity, with the fallopian tube accounting for 95 per cent of cases and the ovary, cervix and abdominal cavity the rest. It lists the predisposing factors from pelvic inflammatory disease, which raises the risk six to tenfold, contraceptive failure, an IUCD, failed BTL, progestogen-only use, previous tubal surgery or ectopic pregnancy, tuboplasty, adhesions and congenital tubal malformations, then the clinical presentation, the signs of shock and the localised iliac fossa findings, the differential diagnosis from threatened abortion, urinary tract infection, appendicitis, peritonitis, PID and a torsed ovarian cyst, and the management: intravenous fluids, blood for grouping and cross-match, immediate laparotomy and referral from a health centre.