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Ectopic Pregnancy

Author: Vicken P Sepilian, MD, MSc; Chief Editor: Michel E Rivlin, MD more...

Updated: May 6, 2013

Practice Essentials

Ectopic pregnancy is the result of a flaw in human reproductive physiology that allows the conceptus to implantand mature outside the endometrial cavity, which ultimately ends in the death of the fetus. Without timely

diagnosis and treatment, ectopic pregnancy can become a life-threatening situation.[1]

Essential update: Best modality for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy

In a systematic review of 14 studies with 12,101 patients, researchers found that the presence of an adnexal massin the absence of an intrauterine pregnancy on transvaginal sonography had a positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 111for ectopic pregnancy, while the lack of adnexal abnormalities on transvaginal sonography decreases the likelihoodof ectopic pregnancy. All components of the history had an LR+ of less than 1.5. Physical examination findings ofcervical motion tenderness (LR+ 4.9), an adnexal mass (LR+ 2.8), and adnexal tenderness (LR+ 1.9) all increased

the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy.[2, 3]

Signs and symptoms

The classic clinical triad of ectopic pregnancy is as follows:

Abdominal painAmenorrheaVaginal bleeding

Unfortunately, only about 50% of patients present with all 3 symptoms.

Patients may present with other symptoms common to early pregnancy (eg, nausea, breast fullness). Thefollowing symptoms have also been reported:

Painful fetal movements (in the case of advanced abdominal pregnancy)Dizziness or weaknessFeverFlulike symptomsVomitingSyncopeCardiac arrest

The presence of the following signs suggests a surgical emergency:

Abdominal rigidityInvoluntary guardingSevere tendernessEvidence of hypovolemic shock (eg, orthostatic blood pressure changes, tachycardia)

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Findings on pelvic examination may include the following:

The uterus may be slightly enlarged and softUterine or cervical motion tenderness may suggest peritoneal inflammationAn adnexal mass may be palpated but is usually difficult to differentiate from the ipsilateral ovaryUterine contents may be present in the vagina, due to shedding of endometrial lining stimulated by anectopic pregnancy

See Clinical Presentation for more detail.

Diagnosis

Serum β-HCG levels

In a normal pregnancy, the β-HCG level doubles every 48-72 hours until it reaches 10,000-20,000mIU/mL. Inectopic pregnancies, β-HCG levels usually increase less. Mean serum β-HCG levels are lower in ectopicpregnancies than in healthy pregnancies.

No single serum β-HCG level is diagnostic of an ectopic pregnancy. Serial serum β-HCG levels are necessary todifferentiate between normal and abnormal pregnancies and to monitor resolution of ectopic pregnancy oncetherapy has been initiated.

The discriminatory zone of β-HCG (ie, the level above which an imaging scan should reliably visualize a gestationalsac within the uterus in a normal intrauterine pregnancy) is as follows:

1500-1800 mIU/mL with transvaginal ultrasonography, but up to 2300 mIU/mL with multiple gestates[4]

6000-6500 mIU/mL with abdominal ultrasonography

Absence of an intrauterine pregnancy on a scan when the β-HCG level is above the discriminatory zone representsan ectopic pregnancy or a recent abortion.

Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography is probably the most important tool for diagnosing an extrauterine pregnancy.

Visualization of an intrauterine sac, with or without fetal cardiac activity, is often adequate to exclude ectopic

pregnancy.[5]

Transvaginal ultrasonography, or endovaginal ultrasonography, can be used to visualize an intrauterine pregnancyby 24 days postovulation or 38 days after the last menstrual period (about 1 week earlier than transabdominalultrasonography). An empty uterus on endovaginal ultrasonographic images in patients with a serum β-HCG levelgreater than the discriminatory cut-off value is an ectopic pregnancy until proved otherwise.

Color-flow Doppler ultrasonography improves the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of transvaginalultrasonography, especially in cases in which a gestational sac is questionable or absent.

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy remains the criterion standard for diagnosis; however, its routine use on all patients suspected ofectopic pregnancy may lead to unnecessary risks, morbidity, and costs. Moreover, laparoscopy can miss up to4% of early ectopic pregnancies.

Laparoscopy is indicated for patients who are in pain or hemodynamically unstable.

See Workup for more detail.

Management

Therapeutic options in ectopic pregnancy are as follows:

Expectant managementMethotrexateSurgery

Expectant management

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Candidates for successful expectant management should be asymptomatic and have no evidence of rupture orhemodynamic instability. Candidates should demonstrate objective evidence of resolution (eg, declining β-HCGlevels).

Close follow-up and patient compliance are of paramount importance, as tubal rupture may occur despite low anddeclining serum levels of β-HCG.

Methotrexate

Methotrexate is the standard medical treatment for unruptured ectopic pregnancy. A single-dose IM injection is themore popular regimen. The ideal candidate should have the following:

Hemodynamic stabilityNo severe or persisting abdominal painThe ability to follow up multiple timesNormal baseline liver and renal function test results

Absolute contraindications to methotrexate therapy include the following:

Existence of an intrauterine pregnancyImmunodeficiencyModerate to severe anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopeniaSensitivity to methotrexateActive pulmonary or peptic ulcer diseaseClinically important hepatic or renal dysfunctionBreastfeedingEvidence of tubal rupture

Surgical treatment

Laparoscopy has become the recommended surgical approach in most cases. Laparotomy is usually reserved forpatients who are hemodynamically unstable or for patients with cornual ectopic pregnancies; it also is a preferredmethod for surgeons inexperienced in laparoscopy and in patients in whom a laparoscopic approach is difficult.

See Treatment and Medication for more detail.

Image library

An endovaginal sonogram demonstrates an early ectopic pregnancy. An echogenic ring (tubal ring) found outside of the uterus can be

seen in this view .

Background

Ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of a fertilized egg in a location outside of the uterine cavity, includingthe fallopian tubes (approximately 97.7%), cervix, ovary, cornual region of the uterus, and abdominal cavity. Oftubal pregnancies, the ampulla is the most common site of implantation (80%), followed by the isthmus (12%),fimbria (5%), cornua (2%), and interstitia (2-3%). (See the image below.)

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Sites and frequencies of ectopic pregnancy. By Donna M. Peretin, RN. (A) Ampullary, 80%; (B) Isthmic, 12%; (C) Fimbrial, 5%; (D)

Cornual/Interstitial, 2%; (E) Abdominal, 1.4%; (F) Ovarian, 0.2%; and (G) Cervical, 0.2%.

In ectopic pregnancy (the term ectopic is derived from the Greek word ektopos, meaning out of place), thegestation grows and draws its blood supply from the site of abnormal implantation. As the gestation enlarges, itcreates the potential for organ rupture, because only the uterine cavity is designed to expand and accommodatefetal development. Ectopic pregnancy can lead to massive hemorrhage, infertility, or death (see the images below).(See Etiology and Prognosis.)

A 12-w eek interstitial gestation, w hich eventually resulted in a hysterectomy. Courtesy of Deidra Gundy, MD, Department of Obstetrics

and Gynecology at Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (MCPHU).

A 12-w eek interstitial gestation, w hich eventually resulted in a hysterectomy. Courtesy of Deidra Gundy, MD, Department of Obstetrics

and Gynecology at Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (MCPHU).

In 1970, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began to record statistics regarding ectopicpregnancy, reporting 17,800 cases. By 1992, the number of ectopic pregnancies had increased to 108,800.Concurrently, however, the case-fatality rate decreased from 35.5 deaths per 10,000 cases in 1970 to 2.6 per10,000 cases in 1992. (See Epidemiology.)

The increased incidence of ectopic pregnancy has been partially attributed to improved ability in making an earlierdiagnosis. Ectopic pregnancies that previously would have resulted in tubal abortion or complete, spontaneousreabsorption and remained clinically undiagnosed are now detected. (See Presentation, DDx, and Workup.)

In the 1980s and 1990s, medical therapy for ectopic pregnancy was implemented; it has now replaced surgical

therapy in many cases.[6, 7, 8] As the ability to diagnose ectopic pregnancy improves, physicians will be able tointervene sooner, preventing life-threatening sequelae and extensive tubal damage, as well as, it is hoped,preserving future fertility. (See Treatment and Medication.)

Implantation sites

The faulty implantation that occurs in ectopic pregnancy occurs because of a defect in the anatomy or normalfunction of either the fallopian tube (as can result from surgical or infectious scarring), the ovary (as can occur inwomen undergoing fertility treatments), or the uterus (as in cases of bicornuate uterus or cesarean delivery scar).Reflecting this, most ectopic pregnancies are located in the fallopian tube; the most common site is the ampullaryportion of the tube, where over 80% of ectopic pregnancies occur. (See Etiology.)

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Nontubal ectopic pregnancies are a rare occurrence, with abdominal pregnancies accounting for 1.4% of ectopicpregnancies and ovarian and cervical sites accounting for 0.2% each. Some ectopic pregnancies implant in thecervix (< 1%), in previous cesarean delivery scars, or in a rudimentary uterine horn; although these may be

technically in the uterus, they are not considered normal intrauterine pregnancies.[9]

About 80% of ectopic pregnancies are found on the same side as the corpus luteum (the old, ruptured follicle),

when present.[10] In the absence of modern prenatal care, abdominal pregnancies can present at an advanced

stage (>28 wk) and have the potential for catastrophic rupture and bleeding.[11]

Etiology

An ectopic pregnancy requires the occurrence of 2 events: fertilization of the ovum and abnormal implantation.Many risk factors affect both events; for example, a history of major tubal infection decreases fertility andincreases abnormal implantation.

Multiple factors contribute to the relative risk of ectopic pregnancy. In theory, anything that hampers or delays themigration of the fertilized ovum (blastocyst) to the endometrial cavity can predispose a woman to ectopicgestation. The following risk factors have been linked to ectopic pregnancy:

Tubal damage - Which can be the result of infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) orsalpingitis (whether documented or not) or can result from abdominal surgery or tubal ligation or frommaternal in utero diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposureHistory of previous ectopic pregnancySmoking - A risk factor in about one third of ectopic pregnancies; smoking may contribute to decreasedtubal motility by damage to the ciliated cells in the fallopian tubesAltered tubal motility - As mentioned, this can result from smoking, but it can also occur as the result ofhormonal contraception; progesterone-only contraception and progesterone intrauterine devices (IUDs) havebeen associated with an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy

History of 2 or more years of infertility (whether treated or not)[12] - Women using assisted reproductionseem to have a doubled risk of ectopic pregnancy (to 4%), although this is mostly due to the underlying

infertility[13]

History of multiple sexual partners[12]

Maternal age - Although this is not an independent risk factor[12]

The most logical explanation for the increasing frequency of ectopic pregnancy is previous pelvic infection;

however, most patients presenting with an ectopic pregnancy have no identifiable risk factor.[14]

A 2009 literature review found 56 reported cases of ectopic pregnancy (by definition), dating back to 1937, after

hysterectomy.[15]

Pelvic inflammatory disease

The most common cause of PID is an antecedent infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Patients withchlamydial infection have a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic cervicitis to salpingitis and floridPID. More than 50% of women who have been infected are unaware of the exposure.

Other organisms that cause PID, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, anda history of salpingitis increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy 4-fold. The incidence of tubal damage increasesafter successive episodes of PID (ie, 13% after 1 episode, 35% after 2 episodes, 75% after 3 episodes).

Effective vaccination against Chlamydia trachomatis is under investigation. Once clinically available, it should havea dramatic impact on the frequency of ectopic pregnancy, as well as on the overall health of the femalereproductive system.

History of previous ectopic pregnancy

After 1 ectopic pregnancy, a patient incurs a 7- to 13-fold increase in the likelihood of another ectopic pregnancy.Overall, a patient with a previous ectopic pregnancy has a 50-80% chance of having a subsequent intrauterinegestation and a 10-25% chance of a future tubal pregnancy.

History of tubal surgery and conception after tubal ligation

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Previous tubal surgery has been demonstrated to increase the risk of developing ectopic pregnancy. The increasedepends on the degree of damage and the extent of anatomic alteration. Surgeries carrying higher risk ofsubsequent ectopic pregnancy include salpingostomy, neosalpingostomy, fimbrioplasty, tubal reanastomosis, andlysis of peritubal or periovarian adhesions.

Conception after previous tubal ligation also increases a women's risk of having an ectopic pregnancy; 35-50% ofpatients who conceive after a tubal ligation are reported to experience an ectopic pregnancy. Failure after bipolartubal cautery is more likely to result in ectopic pregnancy than is occlusion using suture, rings, or clips. Thisfailure is attributed to fistula formation that allows sperm passage. In one study, 33% of pregnancies occurringafter tubal ligation were ectopic; those who underwent electrocautery and women younger than 35 years were at

higher risk.[16]

Ectopic pregnancies following tubal sterilizations usually occur 2 or more years after sterilization rather thanimmediately after. In the first year, only about 6% of sterilization failures result in ectopic pregnancy.

Smoking

Cigarette smoking has been shown to be a risk factor for ectopic pregnancy development. Studies havedemonstrated an elevated risk ranging from 1.6 to 3.5 times that of nonsmokers. A dose-response effect has alsobeen suggested.

Based on laboratory studies in humans and animals, researchers have postulated several mechanisms by whichcigarette smoking might play a role in ectopic pregnancies. These mechanisms include one or more of thefollowing: delayed ovulation, altered tubal and uterine motility, and altered immunity. To date, however, no studyhas supported a specific mechanism by which cigarette smoking affects the occurrence of ectopic pregnancy.

Use of oral contraceptives or an intrauterine device

All contraceptive methods lead to an overall lower risk of pregnancy and therefore to an overall lower risk of ectopicpregnancy. However, among cases of contraceptive failure, women at increased risk of ectopic pregnancycompared with pregnant controls included those using progestin-only oral contraceptives, progestin-only implants,

or IUDs and those with a history of tubal ligation.[17]

The presence of an inert, copper-containing or progesterone IUD traditionally has been thought to be a risk factorfor ectopic pregnancy. However, only the progesterone IUD has a rate of ectopic pregnancy higher than that forwomen not using any form of contraception. The modern copper IUD does not increase the risk of ectopicpregnancy. Nevertheless, if a woman ultimately conceives with an IUD in place, it is more likely to be an ectopic

pregnancy. The actual incidence of ectopic pregnancies with IUD use is 3-4%.[18]

Emergency contraception (levonorgestrel, or Plan B) does not appear to lead to a higher-than-expected rate of

ectopic pregnancy.[19]

Use of fertility drugs or assisted reproductive technology

Ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate or injectable gonadotropin therapy has been linked to a 4-fold increasein the risk of ectopic pregnancy in a case-control study. This finding suggests that multiple eggs and highhormone levels may be significant factors.

One study demonstrated that infertility patients with luteal phase defects have a statistically higher ectopicpregnancy rate than do patients whose infertility is caused by anovulation. In addition, the risk of ectopicpregnancy and heterotopic pregnancy (ie, pregnancies occurring simultaneously in different body sites)dramatically increases when a patient has used assisted reproductive techniques—such as such as in vitro

fertilization (IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)—to conceive.[20]

In a study of 3000 clinical pregnancies achieved through in vitro fertilization, the ectopic pregnancy rate was 4.5%,which is more than double the background incidence. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that up to 1% ofpregnancies achieved through IVF or GIFT can result in a heterotopic gestation, compared with an incidence of 1

in 30,000 pregnancies for spontaneous conceptions.[21]

Increasing age

The highest rate of ectopic pregnancy occurs in women aged 35-44 years. A 3- to 4-fold increase in the risk of

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developing an ectopic pregnancy exists compared with women aged 15-24 years. One proposed explanation

suggests that aging may result in a progressive loss of myoelectrical activity in the fallopian tube; myoelectricalactivity is responsible for tubal motility.

Salpingitis isthmica nodosum

Salpingitis isthmica nodosum is defined as the microscopic presence of tubal epithelium in the myosalpinx orbeneath the tubal serosa. These pockets of epithelium protrude through the tube, similar to small diverticula.Studies of serial histopathologic sections of the fallopian tube have revealed that approximately 50% of patientstreated with salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy have evidence of salpingitis isthmica nodosum. The etiology ofsalpingitis isthmica nodosum is unclear, but proposed mechanisms include postinflammatory and congenital

changes, as well as acquired tubal changes, such as those observed with endometriosis.[22]

DES exposure

Before 1971, several million women were exposed in utero to DES, which was given to their mothers to preventpregnancy complications. In utero exposure of women to DES is associated with a high lifetime risk of a broad

spectrum of adverse health outcomes, including infertility, spontaneous abortion, and ectopic pregnancy.[23]

Other

Other risk factors associated with increased incidence of ectopic pregnancy include anatomic abnormalities of theuterus such as a T-shaped or bicornuate uterus, fibroids or other uterine tumors, previous abdominal surgery,

failure with progestin-only contraception, and ruptured appendix.[14]

Epidemiology

Occurrence in the United States

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy is reported most commonly as the number of ectopic pregnancies per 1000conceptions. Since 1970, when the reported rate in the United States was 4.5 cases per 1000 pregnancies, thefrequency of ectopic pregnancy has increased 6-fold, with ectopic pregnancies now accounting for approximately1-2% of all pregnancies. Consequently, the prevalence is estimated at 1 in 40 pregnancies, or approximately 25cases per 1000 pregnancies. These statistics are based on data from the US Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (CDC), which used hospitalizations for ectopic pregnancy to determine the total number of ectopicpregnancies.

Looking at raw data, 17,800 hospitalizations for ectopic pregnancies were reported in 1970. This number rose to

88,000 in 1989[24] but fell to 30,000 in 1998. An estimated 108,800 ectopic pregnancies in 1992 resulted in 58,200hospitalizations, with an estimated cost of $1.1 billion.

Changes in the management of ectopic pregnancy, however, have made it difficult to reliably monitor incidence

(and therefore mortality rates).[25] A review of hospital discharges in California found a rate of 15 cases per 1,000 in

1991, declining to a rate of 9.3 cases per 1,000 in 2000,[26] but a review of electronic medical records (inpatientand outpatient) from a large health maintenance organization (HMO) in northern California found a stable rate of

20.7 cases per 1,000 reported pregnancies from 1997-2000.[27] This suggests that the incidence of ectopicpregnancy in the United States remained steady at about 2% in the 1990s, despite the shift to outpatienttreatment.

The above data raise the question of whether the number of ectopic pregnancies is declining or whether manyectopic pregnancies are now being treated in ambulatory surgical centers or are even being addressed withmedical therapy, without admission. Some authors believe the latter is true, but truly accurate statistics arelacking.

Approximately 85-90% of ectopic pregnancies occur in multigravid women. In the United States, rates are nearlytwice as high for women of other races compared with white women.

International occurrence

The increase in incidence of ectopic pregnancy in the 1970s in the United States was also mirrored in Africa,

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although data there tend to be hospital based rather than derived from nationwide surveys, with estimates in the

range of 1.1-4.6%.[28]

The United Kingdom estimated the incidence of ectopic pregnancy at about 11.1 per 1,000 reported pregnancies

from 1997 to 2005, compared with 9.6 per 1,000 from 1991 to 1993.[29]

Racial- and age-related demographics

In the United States from 1991 to 1999, ectopic pregnancy was the cause of 8% of all pregnancy-related deaths

among black women, compared with 4% among white women.[30]

Any woman with functioning ovaries can potentially have an ectopic pregnancy, which includes women from theage of menarche until menopause. Women older than 40 years were found to have an adjusted odds ratio of 2.9 for

ectopic pregnancy.[14]

Prognosis

Ectopic pregnancy presents a major health problem for women of childbearing age. It is the result of a flaw inhuman reproductive physiology that allows the conceptus to implant and mature outside the endometrial cavity,which ultimately ends in the death of the fetus. Without timely diagnosis and treatment, ectopic pregnancy can

become a life-threatening situation.[1]

The evidence in the literature reporting on the treatment of ectopic pregnancy with subsequent reproductiveoutcome is limited mostly to observational data and a few randomized trials comparing treatment options.

Assessment of successful treatment and future reproductive outcome with various treatment options is oftenskewed by selection bias. For example, comparing a patient who was managed expectantly with a patient whoreceived methotrexate or with a patient who had a laparoscopic salpingectomy is difficult.

A patient with spotting, no abdominal pain, and a low initial beta–human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) level thatis falling may be managed expectantly, whereas a patient who presents with hemodynamic instability, an acuteabdomen, and high initial β-HCG levels must be managed surgically. These 2 patients probably represent differentdegrees of tubal damage; thus, comparing the future reproductive outcomes of the 2 cases would be flawed.

Salpingostomy, salpingectomy, and tubal surgery

Data in the literature have failed to demonstrate substantial and consistent benefit from either salpingostomy orsalpingectomy with regard to improving future reproductive outcome. However, despite the risk of persistentectopic pregnancy, some studies have shown salpingostomy to improve reproductive outcome in patients withcontralateral tubal damage. Yao and Tulandi concluded from a literature review that laparoscopic salpingostomyhad a reproductive performance that was equal to or slightly better than salpingectomy; however, slightly higher

recurrent ectopic pregnancy rates were noted in the salpingostomy group.[31]

In reporting on 10 years of surgical experience in Paris, Dubuisson et al concluded that, for selected patients whodesire future fertility, using salpingectomy, which is simpler and avoids the risk of persistent ectopic pregnancy, is

possible and can result in a comparable fertility rate to tubal conservation surgery.[32] Future fertility rates were nodifferent with either surgical approach when the contralateral tube was either normal or scarred but patent.

Clausen reviewed literature from the previous 40 years and concluded that only a small number of investigatorshave suggested, indirectly, that conservative tubal surgery increases the rate of subsequent intrauterine

pregnancy. He also concluded that the more recent studies may reflect an improvement in surgical technique.[33]

In an earlier study, Maymon et al, after reviewing 20 years of ectopic pregnancy treatment, concluded thatconservative tubal surgery provided no greater risk of recurrent ectopic pregnancy than the more radical

salpingectomy.[34]

The modern pelvic surgeon has been led to believe that the treatment of choice for unruptured ectopic pregnancy issalpingostomy, sparing the affected fallopian tube and thereby improving future reproductive outcome.

However, if the treating surgeon has neither the laparoscopic skill nor the instrumentation necessary toatraumatically remove the trophoblastic tissue via linear salpingostomy, then salpingectomy by laparoscopy orlaparotomy is not the wrong surgical choice. Leaving a scarred, charred fallopian tube behind after removing the

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ectopic pregnancy but requiring extensive cautery to control bleeding does not preserve reproductive outcome.

Fertility following surgery

Previous history of infertility has been found to be the most significant factor affecting postsurgical fertility.

Parker and Bistis concluded that when the contralateral fallopian tube is normal, the subsequent fertility rate is

independent of the type of surgery.[35] Similarly, a prospective study of 88 patients by Ory et al indicated that the

surgical method had no effect on subsequent fertility in women with an intact contralateral tube.[36]

Several other studies reported that the status of the contralateral tube, the presence of adhesions, and thepresence of other risk factors, such as endometriosis, have a more significant impact on future fertility than doesthe choice of surgical procedure.

According to Rulin, salpingectomy should be the treatment of choice in women with intact contralateral tubes,because conservative treatment provides no additional benefit and incurs the additional costs and morbidity

associated with persistent ectopic pregnancy and recurrent ectopic pregnancy in the already damaged tube.[37]

Future fertility rates have been found to be similar in patients who are treated surgically by laparoscopy orlaparotomy. Salpingectomy by laparotomy carries a subsequent intrauterine pregnancy rate of 25-70%, comparedwith laparoscopic salpingectomy rates of 50-60%. Very similar rates exist for laparoscopic salpingostomy versuslaparotomy. The rate of persistent ectopic pregnancy between the 2 groups is also similar, ranging from 5-20%.

A slightly higher recurrent ectopic pregnancy rate exists in patients treated by laparotomy (7-28%), regardless ofconservative or radical approach, when compared with laparoscopy (6-16%). This surprising finding is believed tobe secondary to increased adhesion formation in the group treated by laparotomy.

Comparison of medical and surgical treatment of small, intact extrauterine pregnancies also revealed similar

success and subsequent spontaneous pregnancy rates in a prospective, randomized trial.[38]

Methotrexate versus surgery

The success rates after methotrexate are comparable with laparoscopic salpingostomy, assuming that thepreviously mentioned selection criteria are observed. The average success rates using the multiple-dosageregimen are in the range of 91-95%, as demonstrated by multiple investigators. One study of 77 patients desiringsubsequent pregnancy showed intrauterine pregnancies in 64% of these patients and recurrent ectopic pregnancyin 11% of them. Other studies have demonstrated similar results, with intrauterine pregnancy rates ranging from20-80%.

The average success rates for the single-dosage methotrexate regimen are reported to be from 88-94%. In a study

by Stovall and Ling, 113 patients (94%) were treated successfully, 4 (3.3%) of whom needed a second dose.[38]

No adverse effects were encountered. Furthermore, 87.2% of these patients achieved a subsequent intrauterine

pregnancy, whereas 12.8% experienced a subsequent ectopic pregnancy.[38] Other studies have reported similarresults, with some mild adverse effects and lower reproductive outcomes.

A meta-analysis that included data from 26 trials demonstrated a success rate of 88.1% with the single-dose

methotrexate regimen and a success rate of 92.7% with the multiple-dose regimen.[39] A small, randomized

clinical trial also demonstrated the single-dose regimen to have a slightly higher failure rate.[40] A hybrid protocol,

involving 2 equal doses of methotrexate (50 mg/m2) given on days 1 and 4 without the use of leucovorin, has been

shown to be an effective and convenient alternative to the existing regimens.[41]

Complications

Complications of ectopic pregnancy can be secondary to misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, or treatment approach.Failure to make the prompt and correct diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy can result in tubal or uterine rupture(depending on the location of the pregnancy), which in turn can lead to massive hemorrhage, shock, disseminatedintravascular coagulopathy (DIC), and death. Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death in the firsttrimester, accounting for 9-13% of all pregnancy-related deaths. In the United States, an estimated 30-40 womendie each year from ectopic pregnancy.

Any time a surgical approach is chosen as the treatment of choice, consider the complications attributable to thesurgery, whether it is laparotomy or laparoscopy. These include bleeding, infection, and damage to surrounding

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organs, such as the bowel, bladder, and ureters, and to the major vessels nearby. Infertility may also resultsecondary to loss of reproductive organs after surgery. Also consider the risks and complications secondary toanesthesia. Make the patient aware of these complications, and obtain the appropriate written consents.

Mortality

In the United States, ectopic pregnancy is estimated to occur in 1-2% of all pregnancies and accounts for 3-4% of

all pregnancy-related deaths.[42] It is the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality during the first trimester inthe United States. In a review of deaths from ectopic pregnancy in Michigan, 44% of the women who died were

either found dead at home or were dead on arrival at the emergency department.[43]

Virtually all ectopic pregnancies are considered nonviable and are at risk of eventual rupture and resultinghemorrhage. In addition to the immediate morbidity caused by ectopic pregnancy, the woman's future ability toreproduce may be adversely affected as well. However, patients who are diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy beforerupture have a low mortality rate and also have a chance at preserved fertility.

From 1970 to 1989, the US mortality rate for ectopic pregnancies dropped from 35.5 deaths to 3.8 deaths per

10,000 ectopic pregnancies.[24] If the overall incidence of ectopic pregnancy remained stable in the 1990s, then

the mortality rate dropped to 3.19 deaths per 10,000 ectopic pregnancies by 1999.[44]

Surveillance data for pregnancy-related deaths in the United States from 1991-1999 showed that ectopic

pregnancy was the cause of 5.6% of 4200 maternal deaths. Of these deaths, 93% occurred via hemorrhage.[30]

During 1999–2008, the ectopic pregnancy mortality rate in the United States was 0.6 deaths per 100,000 livebirths. The CDC reported a higher rate in Florida, 2.5 deaths per 100,000 live births during 2009-2010. The 11ectopic pregnancy deaths in Florida during 2009-2010 contrasted with the total number of deaths (14) identified innational statistics for 2007. There was a high prevalence of illicit drug use among the women who died in Florida.[42]

The mortality rate reported in African hospital-based studies varied from 50-860 deaths per 10,000 ectopicpregnancies; these were almost certainly underestimates resulting from underreporting of maternal deaths and

misclassification of ectopic pregnancies as induced abortions.[28]

Using data from 1997 to 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that ectopic pregnancy was the

cause of 4.9% of pregnancy-related deaths in the industrialized world.[45] Ectopic pregnancy caused 26% ofmaternal deaths in early pregnancy in the United Kingdom from 2003-2005, second only to venous

thromboembolism, despite a relatively low mortality rate of 0.035 per 10,000 estimated ectopic pregnancies.[29]

Patient Education

Advise patients receiving methotrexate therapy to avoid alcoholic beverages, vitamins containing folic acid,nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and sexual intercourse, until advised otherwise. A signed writtenconsent demonstrating the patient's comprehension of the course of treatment must be obtained.

Provide an information pamphlet to all patients receiving methotrexate; the pamphlet should include a list ofadverse effects, a schedule of follow-up visits, and a method of contacting the physician or the hospital in case ofemergency, as well as the need to return to the emergency department for concerning symptoms.

Patients with risk factors for ectopic pregnancy should be educated regarding their risk of having an ectopicpregnancy. Women who are being discharged with a pregnancy of unknown location should be educated regardingthe possibility of ectopic pregnancy and their need for urgent follow-up.

Patients undergoing assisted reproduction technology should be educated regarding their risk of heterotopicpregnancy.

For patient education information, see the Pregnancy Center and the Women's Health Center, as well as EctopicPregnancy, Bleeding During Pregnancy, Vaginal Bleeding, Birth Control Overview, and Birth Control Methods.

Contributor Information and DisclosuresAuthorVicken P Sepilian, MD, MSc Medical Director, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, CHA Fertility

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Center

Vicken P Sepilian, MD, MSc is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians

and Gynecologists and American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)Ellen Wood, DO, FACOOG Voluntary Assistant Professor, University of Miami, Leonard M Miller School ofMedicine

Ellen Wood, DO, FACOOG is a member of the following medical societies: American Society for ReproductiveMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief EditorMichel E Rivlin, MD Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi School ofMedicine

Michel E Rivlin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians andGynecologists, American Medical Association, Mississippi State Medical Association, Royal College ofObstetricians and Gynaecologists, and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional ContributorsA David Barnes, MD, PhD, MPH, FACOG Consulting Staff, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Mammoth Hospital (Mammoth Lakes, California), Pioneer Valley Hospital (Salt Lake City, Utah), WarrenGeneral Hospital (Warren, Pennsylvania), and Mountain West Hospital (Tooele, Utah)

A David Barnes, MD, PhD, MPH, FACOG is a member of the following medical societies: American College ofForensic Examiners, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association,Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and Utah Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical CenterCollege of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Robert K Zurawin, MD Associate Professor, Director of Baylor College of Medicine Program for MinimallyInvasive Gynecology, Director of Fellowship Program, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics andGynecology, Baylor College of Medicine

Robert K Zurawin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of GynecologicLaparoscopists, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society for ReproductiveMedicine, Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Central Association of Obstetricians andGynecologists, Harris County Medical Society, North American Society for Pediatric and AdolescentGynecology, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Johnson and Johnson Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Conceptus Honoraria Speaking andteaching; ConMed Consulting fee Consulting

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