Pelvic ultrasound performed by emergency physicians for the detection of ectopic pregnancy in complicated first-trimester pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy and application of pelvic ultrasound performed by emergency physicians in detecting ectopic pregnancy (EP) in complicated first-trimester pregnancies.


METHODS
We studied consecutive pelvic ultrasounds performed in all women who presented with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy over a 6-month period. Patients with clinical evidence of incomplete abortion were not included. We compared ultrasound results with subsequent ultrasound findings by the radiology department and correlated them with follow-up diagnoses and outcomes.


RESULTS
Of the 136 eligible patients, a final diagnosis was rendered in 125; 11 were lost to follow-up. These ED ultrasound findings were recorded: established intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) with embryonic structures, 87 (70%); indeterminate scan revealing no distinct evidence of IUP or EP, 15 (12%); early intrauterine gestational sac of less than 6 weeks without embryonic structures, 12 (10%); EP, 8 (6%); blighted ovum, 2 (2%); and molar pregnancy, 1 (1%). The initial ED ultrasound determination was consistent with radiology department findings, final outcome, or both in 121 (96%) (95% confidence interval [CI], 91% to 97%). ED ultrasound accurately identified 87 pregnancies with intrauterine embryonic structures, including 5 patients with fetal demise (95% Cl, 97% to 100%). Diagnosis of pregnancy location in these 87 patients effectively ruled out EP, with a negative predictive value of 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of ED ultrasound in the detection of EP were 90% and 88%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Pelvic ultrasonography performed by emergency physicians can be used to rule out EP and make an accurate diagnosis in most patients with complicated first-trimester pregnancies during the initial ED visit. The remaining patients at risk can be identified and a diagnosis made by means of follow-up ultrasound and serial hCG determinations.
Durham
B
B
Department of Emergency Medicine, Martin Luther King-Los Angeles County Medical and Trauma Center, California, USA. brittan@mem.po.com
Lane
B
B
Burbridge
L
L
Balasubramaniam
S
S
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin