Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing - The Carter Center

Diagnosis
- The presence of internal bleeding in acute cases. An
immunological pregnancy test is positive in 75 % of cases
which is not very specific if the BHCG test is positive, a
pelvic ultrasound examination be made.
- If ultrasound examination shows fetus in the fallopian tube
and empty uterus the diagnosis is certain and a
laparotomy should be made If the diagnosis remains in
doubt a laparoscopy will clear the matter up
Treatments
When tubal pregnancy is suspected the patient must be
transferred to hospital with out vaginal examination provided
she is not in shock and intravenous infusion of saline or a
plasma expander given.
As soon as the diagnosis of ectopic gestation is made in
hospital, laparatomy should be performed at once, even if the
patient is collapsed. Blood transfusion should be started as
soon as after admission as possible.
Prognosis
Only 60 percent of patients who have had an ectopic
gestation become pregnant again. Of the women who do not
have a future pregnancy, 75 percent avoid pregnancy
voluntarily, and 75 percent are involuntarily infertile. The risk
299