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Diagnosing unruptured ectopic pregnancy
S A Obed1, J B Wilson, T E Elkins
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
Objective:
A retrospective analysis of the management of ectopic pregnancy at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana, to assess the impact of the introduction of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool.
Methods:
All charts of patients with ectopic pregnancies from 1 January 1986 to 31 December 1990 were analyzed. The management of those patients who had transabdominal ultrasonography was compared with those who had not.
Results:
The use of ultrasonography increased the number of unruptured ectopic pregnancies from 0.3% to 8.5% (P < 0.001). This also reflected a reduction in misdiagnoses, blood transfusions, and maternal deaths.
Conclusions:
The reasonable use of modern technology can be of great assistance even in developing countries, as shown by the positive impact of the use of ultrasonography to aid in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy in Ghana, West Africa.