[Ectopic pregnancy: Its current interest in Primary Health Care]

Abstract

An ectopic pregnancy is the implantation and development of the ovum fertilized outside the endometrial cavity. Its incidence has increased in the last 30 years, and although its morbimortality has decreased, it is still the first cause of mortality in the first trimester of the pregnancy. Early suspicion is important, particularly in women of fertile age and with risk factors indicative of an extrauterine gestation. The symptomatology is usually amenorrhea, abdominal pain, metrorrhagia, general pregnancy symptoms, and even syncope and shock. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is based on the clinical information, analytical results on mother blood and urine, ultrasound examination, transvaginal culdocentesis, laparoscopic or laparotomic inspection, and a histological study. The treatment can be surgical (salpingostomy or salpingectomy), medical (methotrexate) or expectant, depending on the factors of the ectopic pregnancy: early diagnosis, presence of acute complications, clinical condition of the patient, etc.

Keywords: Ectopic pregnancy; Embarazo ectópico; Extrauterine gestation; Gestación extrauterina; Methotrexate; Metotrexato; Salpingectomy; Salpingectomía; Salpingostomy; Salpingostomía; Trofoblasto tubárico; Tubal trophoblast.