Abstract
BackgroundEctopic pregnancy (EP) is a life-threatening condition; at Odi Hospital, approximately 7–10 EPs are managed weekly. Our study is the first to assess the management of this life-threatening condition at Odi Hospital.AimThis study aimed to determine the incidence of EP and to assess the profile of women who presented with EP at Odi District Hospital from 01 January 2010 to 31 December 2014.SettingThe study was conducted at Odi District Hospital, located in Mabopane, a township in Gauteng province, 45 km north of Tshwane, South Africa (SA).MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study.ResultsWe analysed 263 completed patient records. The incidence rate was 22 per 1000 live births. The mean age was 28.9 years (SD ± 6.09), 57% were within the age group of 25–34 years, 90.9% were single and 85.2% were unemployed. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting complaint (81.1%). Ninety-nine (37.8%) were in a state of haemorrhagic shock. Possible risk factors were not documented in the patient files for 95%. A third (34.2%) were operated on within 4 hours of consultation. Early management was associated with poor record-keeping (p = 0.02). There was a delay in confirming the diagnosis in 48.7%. It was associated with gestational age (p = 0.0017), previous abdominal surgery (p = 0.0026), normal haemoglobin level at the time of consultation (p = 0.0024), considerable haemoperitoneum at operation (p < 0.00001) and per vaginal bleeding (p = 0.003).ConclusionThe study highlighted the need to emphasise the importance of good record-keeping and documentation in patients, as well as the urgent need for ultrasound skills training among clinicians to implement the Essential Steps in Managing Obstetric Emergencies programme at this hospital to improve the management of EP and other obstetric emergencies.
Highlights
The study population consisted of all Ectopic pregnancy (EP) patients managed from 01 January 2010 to 31 December 2014, which was 338 EP
The present study recorded an incidence of EP of 2.2%, which is in line with other African studies
1.79% and 1.8% were reported by Murugesan et al and Prasanna et al, respectively.[15,19]
Summary
Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a complication of pregnancy characterised by an abnormal implantation of the fertilised ovum in tissues other than the endometrial lining of the uterus.[1,2] In 97% of cases, the EP is located in the fallopian tube, and sometimes the EP occurs in the pelvic or abdominal cavity.Very rarely does it occur in the cervix, and less-reported sites are the ovaries and broad ligaments.[3,4]This abnormal localisation of pregnancy is a life-threatening obstetrical condition found in women of reproductive age, and it is a leading cause of maternal death when rupture occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy.[5,6,7,8] The aetiology of EP is not well understood, but risk factors associated with EP include pelvic inflammatory disease, puerperal sepsis, previous termination of pregnancy, post-abortion sepsis, appendicitis and use of intrauterine contraceptive devices.[5,8,9] The incidence of ectopic pregnancies varies between studies and from one country to another. Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a complication of pregnancy characterised by an abnormal implantation of the fertilised ovum in tissues other than the endometrial lining of the uterus.[1,2] In 97% of cases, the EP is located in the fallopian tube, and sometimes the EP occurs in the pelvic or abdominal cavity. Very rarely does it occur in the cervix, and less-reported sites are the ovaries and broad ligaments.[3,4]. Our study is the first to assess the management of this life-threatening condition at Odi Hospital
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
