1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.
2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pan African University of Life and Earth Science Institute (Including Health and Agriculture), University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
3Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
4Department of medical Services, Nigerian Ports Authority, Delta Ports Complex, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Citation: Chukwu JA, Agulanna AE, Okafor IA, Nwakanma AA, Osuji BCO (2022) A Decade Study of the Incidence and Clinical Analysis of Ectopic Pregnancy at a Tertiary Hospital in Eastern Nigeria. SciTech Women & Nursing 2022.
Received: March 07, 2022 Accepted: March 10, 2022 Published: March 10, 2022
Background of study: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) remains a fertility- and life-threatening gynecological condition. The aim of this study is to evaluate its incidence, clinical presentation, gestational age and location at presentation, risk factors and treatment modalities of ectopic pregnancy in a Nigerian population.
Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted at St. Charles Borromeo Specialist hospital, Onitsha, Nigeria, from January 2009 to December 2018. Information on bio-demographic data, clinical presentation, risk factors, and treatment modality were obtained from the hospital’s medical records unit as retrieved from various hospital wards. Data were analyzed using IBM statistical package for social science (SPSS), version 23 and presented as percentage in tables and chart.
Results: Out of 13,402 pregnancies recorded in this study, 119 were ectopic pregnancies giving an incidence of 0.89%. 105 case notes were included in this study since they met the inclusion criteria. Majority of the women belonged to the age group of 26-30 years (37.1%). Patients with EP presented more between 7-8 weeks of gestational age (40%), though 7.6% were unsure of their last menstrual period. 72.3% of the patients were married and majority, nulliparous (35.2%). Eighty EP cases (76.2%) were ruptured while twenty-five (23.8%) were unruptured cases. Ampulla was the most common site of occurrence of the ectopic gestation (51.4%). EP occurred more at the right side (66.6%) than the left (33.4%). Pelvic inflammatory disease (30.4%) followed by prior abortion (20.0%) were major predisposing risk factors. The most common clinical presentations were abdominal pain (92.38%), amenorrhea (57.14%), and vaginal bleeding (51.42%). 85.7% had Salpingectomy, and 9.5% were medically managed. Our study recorded one maternal death (0.95%).
Conclusion: EP remains a major gynecological emergency. Diagnosis before rupture could offer an opportunity for a successful medical management, thereby; minimizing morbidity, mortality and financial burden.
Keywords: Ectopic pregnancy, Amenorrhea, Salpingectomy, Gestational age