OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of women with ectopic pregnancy submitted to surgical treatment at the HMCP from 1995 to 2000; as well as to evaluate some characteristics of these women and the treatment performed. METHODS: The study was retrospective. Data was obtained from medical register of women submitted to laparotomy with the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Variables studied were: patient's age, place of birth and occupation, status of ectopic pregnancy (with or without rupture), type of surgery, complications and duration of hospital stay. Data was analyzed in a descriptive way, followed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Ninety six cases were studied. Age of the majority of women (65%) ranged from 25 to 35 years; 6% were adolescents. Of all patients 30% were employed. Distribution according to status of pregnancy: the study showed that 66% presented rupture; 79% of the patients were submitted to salpingectomy with or without ooforectomy. Complications: The most frequent complication was acute anemia, including one death due to DIVC (disseminated intravascular coagulation), and 12% of the patients had to receive blood transfusion. The average time of hospital stay was of 3.63 days (SD+0.81). Prevalence of ectopic pregnancies did not change during the period of study and was responsible for 11.2% of the total number of laparotomies. CONCLUSIONS: For the period of this study, the number of women submitted to laparotomy due to ectopic pregnancy remained quite high and unchanged For control, this situation requires preventive measures at different levels. Ectopic pregnancy is a severe pathology and induces high rates of morbidity. It remains a challenge for gynecologists.
Ectopic pregnancy; Hospitalization; Prevalence
