Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Treatment

Study Notes

Ectopic pregnancy: highest risk factors include intrauterine device use, previous ectopic pregnancy surgery, salpingitis, and tubal ciliary damage.
Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy may include: abdominal pain, breast tenderness, nausea, and vaginal bleeding.
Diagnostic tests for ectopic pregnancy include: serum beta hCG test, transvaginal ultrasound, and laparoscopy.
Transvaginal ultrasound is the most valuable diagnostic tool for ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy can be diagnosed with a serum beta hCG level of 20 mg/mL or more.
Laparoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy.
Treatment for ectopic pregnancy depends on the location, size, and rupture status of the pregnancy.
Treatment options for unruptured ectopic pregnancies include expectant management, medical management (methotrexate), and laparoscopic surgery.
Methotrexate is a common medical treatment for ectopic pregnancy, given in a single dose of 50-100 mg/m² or a multidose protocol of 50 mg/m²/day for 3-5 days.
Hemodynamic stability and beta-hCG levels are important factors in determining treatment options for ectopic pregnancy.
Immediate laparoscopic surgery is required for hemodynamically unstable patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancies.
Ectopic pregnancy can be located in various sites including the ampulla, interstitium, and fallopian tube fossa.
Indications for expectant management include: stable hemodynamics, unruptured ectopic pregnancy, and a small (<5 cm) size.
Contraindications for medical management include: cardiac activity, a large (>4 cm) size, and a rapidly rising beta-hCG level.
Methotrexate is contraindicated for patients with contraindications to chemotherapy or who are not willing to accept the treatment.
Monitoring beta-hCG levels is important for assessing the effectiveness of methotrexate treatment.
If methotrexate fails to resolve the ectopic pregnancy, surgery may be required.
Pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and resuscitation are important tools in managing ectopic pregnancy.
The next class will be on orthopedics and bone tumors.

Description

Test your knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy, including risk factors, symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment options such as expectant management, medical management, and laparoscopic surgery.