Human Reproduction, Vol. 6, No. 7, pp. 1002-1007, 1991
© 1991 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
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A review of 254 ectopic pregnancies in a teaching hospital in the Trent Region, 1977–1990
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jessop Hospital for Women Sheffield S3 7RE, UK 2Department of Pathology, Jessop Hospital for Women Sheffield S3 7RE, UK
Correspondence: 1To whom correspondence should be addressed
A total of 254 cases of ectopic pregnancy were reviewed in a teaching hospital in Sheffield, in three defined periods: I, 1977–9; II, 1985–7 and III, 1988–90. A previous history of infertility was noted In 37– of cases. Overall, the presenting syptoms, clinical, laboratory, operative as well as histological findings, are in broad agreement with other series. The incidence increased steadily from 8.6 per 1000 total births in period I to 16.5 per 1000 total births in period III. A number of changes noted in recent years include: (1) the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was made significantly (P < 0.05) earlier; (2) a significantly (P < 0.05) greater proportion of ectopic pregnancies had an association with the following factors: previous tubal surgery, the diagnosis established with ultrasonography, laparotomy preceded by laparoscopy and treatment by conservative surgery; and (3) a significantly (P < 0.05) smaller proportion of ectopic pregnancies had the diagnosis based on pelvic tenderness or pelvic mass. During the period 1988–90 a total of 126 laparoscopies were performed for suspected ectopic pregnancy, of which 82 (65%) were confirmed to have ectoplc pregnancy and 44 (35%) were thought to have no evidence of ectopic pregnancy on laparoscopy. However, two of the latter cases were subsequently found to have an ectopic pregnancy within 2 weeks. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Key words: ectopic pregnancy/laparoscopy/laparotomy/retrospective survey