December 11, 2014

Ectopic pregnancy is a common and potentially fatal emergency in early pregnancy. Its prevalence is about 2% in the general population, but is as high as 16% in women presenting to the emergency department with concerning symptoms. Ectopic pregnancy is a cause of pregnancy-related death and can also lead to chronic pelvic pain, need for blood transfusions, and long-term infertility. Because of the potentially devastating outcomes, it is imperative that emergency physicians diagnose ectopic pregnancy early and refer patients to the proper specialist care. […]