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Ectopic pregnancy
F16Natural course of ectopic pregnancy evaluated by transvaginal sonography
Author(s) -
Okitsu O.,
Nakasaka H.,
Mimura T.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2000.00015-1-16.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ectopic pregnancy , laparotomy , adnexal mass , hemoperitoneum , pregnancy , obstetrics , methotrexate , obstetrics and gynaecology , pregnancy test , surgery , genetics , biology
Backgorund Some of the cases with ectopic pregnancy (EP) may have spontaneous resolution without any treatment. Our aim of this study was to survey natural course of EP with serial sonographic assessment. Method All patients with EP from 1995 to 2000 were recruited. Inclusion criteria were 1. Positive hCG test, 2. Adnexal mass, suggestive of EP depicted by transvaginal sonography, 3. No fetal activity, 4. Pelvic fluid less than 300 mL, 5. Minimal symptoms, 6. Conservative management might be profitable to the patients, and 7 Informed consent. Under Hospitalization, the patients underwent at least one sonographic examination per day. When the amount of intraperitoneal hemorrhage proved to be increasing during the follow‐up, surgical treatment was performed. Results Of 34 cases with ectopic pregnancy, 13 cases with tubal pregnancy had emergency laparotomy immediately after admission. One case with cervical pregnancy was treated with methotrexate. Other 20 cases were enrolled in this study. Of the cases, 10 had laparotomy because of increasing intraperitoneal hemorrhage and/or worsening symptoms. In other 10 cases, spontaneous regression of the mass and decline of hCG level were confirmed. They could be discharged without any surgical treatment. Conclusion Expectant management was successful in 10 (50.0%) of the patients, in which natural course of EP was followed by transvaginal sonography.