Causes: Previous pelvic inflammatory disease is by and large the main cause. Other possible causes are in-appropriate use of oral contraceptive pills, tubal surgery, etc.
| Ectopic Pregnancy |
Definition: Implantation of the Fertilized ovum in a site other than the Uterine cavity is termed as Ectopic Pregnancy.
|
The commonest site is the
Fallopian tube. This is often referred to as tubal
pregnancy, even though implantation can occur in the
ovary, cervix or peritonial cavity. Causes: Previous pelvic inflammatory disease is by and large the main cause. Other possible causes are in-appropriate use of oral contraceptive pills, tubal surgery, etc. |
The patient presents with one of the following symptoms along with a missed period, which may not always be mandatory:
Fainting: usually a ruptured ectopic pregnancy has varying degrees of abdominal bleeding and hence the patient presents with shock, fainting, blackouts
Pain: they can have chronic abdominal pain, acute episodes of bursting pain with fainting
Vaginal bleeding
Pallor: due to massive blood loss the patient looks very pale
The following investigations help the Gynaecologist come to a diagnosis:
Urine pregnancy test
Serum Beta HCG estimation
Trans-vaginal sonography
Laparoscopy
Curettage
The thumb rule is to use as many investigations as possible to make a positive diagnosis of the condition so that the problem is not missed, as it can be really life threatening.
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Dr.
Shyam Kulkarni |
