Ectopic pregnancy

Implantation of the fetus at any site other than the uterus
Most commonly the tubes 90%
Ectopic pregnancy occurs 1 in every 150 pregnancies
Most important predisposing condition for an Ectopic pregnancy is PID with chronic salpingitis
Clinical features include severe abdominal pain around 6 weeks after the last period
Patient may be in a shock like state if the tube has ruptured
In a tubal pregnancy, the placenta is poorly attached to the wall of the tube
Intratubal haemorrhage may then occur without tube rupture due to partial placental separation
The most common cause of hmatosalpinx is a tubal pregnancy
More commonly the placenta invades through the tubal wall and causes intraperitoneal haemorrhage
Less commonly the tubal pregnancy may undergo spontaneous regression and reabsortion
Even less commonly the tubal pregnancy is extruded through the fimbriated end into the abdominal cavity (tubal abortion)