A cross–sectional study on Ectopic pregnancy in sterilized women

Thamilkothai R; Ramalakhsmi S; Gomathi M

Volume : VI, Issue : III, March - 2016

A cross–sectional study on Ectopic pregnancy in sterilized women

Thamilkothai R, Ramalakhsmi S, Gomathi M

Abstract :

Ectopic pregnancy is an emergency situation in which timely intervention will reduce the maternal mortality & morbidity. For early diagnosis a clinician should well aware about the various presentations of ectopic pregnancy. A detailed study on ectopic pregnancy over a particular time period in order to determine the age group, parity, sterilization status with respect to ectopic pregnancy, with a view to join the global trend of early diagnosis and conservative management. The study was carried out in ectopic pregnancy cases who attended Obstetrics and Gynecology department for a period of two years from July 2012 to June 2014.Face to face interviews were conducted using data collection tool. All data were collected on a structural data form and analyzed. total of 138 patients were recruited, of which 124 patients who underwent laparotomy were found to be having ectopic pregnancy. Majority of the patients (63.8%) were in the age group of 21 to 30 years and multigravida (75.4%) were found to be more prone to have an ectopic pregnancy. 25 (18.1%) cases were post sterilization ectopic pregnancies. Concurrent and puerperal sterilization were found to be associated with higher number of ectopic pregnancies which most commonly occurred 3 to 10 years after the sterilization surgery. Ectopic pregnancy has diverse clinical presentations. Sterilization could not rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. Hence strong suspicion is required for its early diagnosis and referral in view of reducing the maternal morbidity.