EXTRA UTERINE GESTATIONS, A 3 YEAR EXPERIENCE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA

Dr. K. Sampurna, *Dr. Syeda Sumaiya Fatima, Dr. Padmavathy, Dr. G. J. Vani Padmaja

ABSTRACT

Ectopic pregnancy is one of the major causes of maternal death[1] and its incidence has been increasing for years and currently two to three times higher than it was 20 or 25 years ago. The increase in incidence in the past few decades is thought to be due to Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and improved diagnostic modalities.[2] Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the developing blastocyst becomes implanted at the site other than the endometrium of the uterine cavity. The most common site of ectopic pregnancy is the Fallopian tube followed by cervix, ovary, abdomen, intestine and the caesarean scar.[2] Most common risk factors associated with ectopic pregnancy are PID, past history of ectopic pregnancy, smoking at the time of conception, previous pelvic surgery, induction of ovulation and intrauterine device usage.[3] Other risk factors, such as douching, early onset of sexual activity, and multiple partners probably increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy indirectly by increasing the risk of infection.[4] Though the use of contraceptives decreases the rate of pregnancy, but it increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.[5] Majority of patients exhibit a wide range of symptoms though abdominal pain, amenorrhea and unusual vaginal bleeding are the most common presentation. In late stages, patient may present with shock in case of rupture which is one of the most common cause of mortality in the reproductive age group.[1] Although majority of the ectopic pregnancies are located in ampulla of fallopian tube, relative infrequency of implantation sites like cornual, ovary, abdominal makes the study of treatment efficacy difficult. In our study, we attempt to summarize the relative incidence of various sites of pregnancy implantation, risk factors, age group and its relation to parity in a tertiary care centre.

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