CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF ECTOPIC PREGNANCY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Ectopic pregnancy remains a major cause of acute abdominal emergencies and early maternal morbidity. Early identification of its clinical features and timely surgical intervention are essential for reducing complications. This study evaluated the clinical presentation and postoperative outcomes of women diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy. Objective: To evaluate the clinical presentation and surgical outcomes of patients diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. A total of 38 confirmed ectopic pregnancy cases were included and compared with 38 normal pregnancy controls for clinical presentation. Surgical procedures and postoperative outcomes were analyzed using data from operation records and patient follow-up. Results: The most common presenting symptoms in ectopic pregnancy were abdominal pain (76.3%), amenorrhea (84.2%), vaginal bleeding (42.1%), P/V bleeding (44.7%), and palpitation (57.9%). Shock features were present in 50% of cases, and a mass in the fornix was detected in 28.9%. These clinical features were markedly lower in normal pregnancy controls. Surgically, salpingectomy was the most frequently performed procedure among the 38 ectopic cases. Postoperative recovery was smooth and uneventful in 55.3% of patients, while 44.7% experienced minor complications. No maternal deaths occurred in the study. Conclusion: Ectopic pregnancy presents with characteristic acute symptoms such as abdominal pain, amenorrhea, and hemodynamic instability, distinguishing it clearly from normal pregnancy. Surgical management, primarily salpingectomy, resulted in favorable outcomes, with most patients recovering without major complications.