Expectant Management of Ectopic Pregnancy

Kang, J Y; Jeong, E H; Roh, J S; Ji, I W; Kim, H S

Abstract

To evaluate the role of expectant management in ectopic pregnancy, all patients with ectopic pregnancy were included to this study if their vital signs were stable. Ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed with transvaginal ultrasound, serum beta-hCG titer, and endometrial biopsy. Patients with ectopic fetal pole and/or fetal heart beat were treated with methotrexate and were excluded. Patients with unstable vital signs were treated laparoscopically and were excluded. Twelve (80%) of 15 patients were spontaneously recovered without any surgrcal or medical treatment. The initial serum beta-hCG level of successful group was significantly lower than that of failed group (547 mIU/ml, range 55~1332 vs. 1,700 mIU/ml, range 1,653~6,171; p=0.0117). Expectant management is a useful form of treatment for selected cases of ectopic pregnancy.