A study of 45 cases of ectopic pregnancy

Forty-five (45) cases of ectopic pregnancy are reported, an incidence of 1:742 pregnancies. Approximately (40%) of these patients gave a positive history of infertility, pelvic infection or abdominal surgery. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the cases were among gravida 1-5; nullipara and grand-multipara constituted the low-risk group. In 88% of the cases, the pregnancy was tubal ectopic, with 58.5% in the right fallopian tube. History of amenorrhea and lower abdominal pain with tenderness were the presenting features in 95% of the cases, while vaginal bleeding was reported by 50%. Vaginal examination is singled out as of poor diagnostic value, and laparoscopy is found to be the best diagnostic procedure. The pertinent medical literature is reviewed.