The early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy

In a survey of 235 consecutive cases of ectopic pregnancy it was found that over 50 per cent were incorrectly diagnosed by the general practitioner and 36 per cent by a hospital doctor. Ten per cent of patients were sent home before the diagnosis was made. Over 30 per cent of patients were sent to general surgical wards and these patients had different characteristics from those sent to gynaecological wards. High risk patients can be identified from their past history. The increasing use of the laparoscope has been associated with earlier detection of ectopic pregnancy before the stage of rupture.