Go back

INDEX

    1st Trimester Bleeding: Ectopic Pregnancy

    Obstetrics and Gynecology

    Last Updated Jul 24, 2020
    Read Disclaimer

    Context

    • 2% of all pregnancies.
    • Occurs in up to 18% of ED 1st trimester patients presenting with bleeding +/- abd pain.
    • 9% of all pregnancy-related deaths and leading cause of maternal death in the 1st.
    • Abdominal pain and/or bleeding in the 1st trimester = ectopic pregnancy (EP) until proven otherwise.
    • 30% of patients presenting with bleeding and/or pain in the 1st trimester will have a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL).
    • PUL includes:
      • EP.
      • IUP – spontaneous abortion.
      • IUP – normal developing pregnancy.
    • An approach to a “rule-out” ectopic includes:
      • Localization of pregnancy on US.
      • If PUL, risk stratification with serial β-hCG and TVUS until a diagnosis of IUP or EP.
      • Balancing the risk of ruptured ectopic and the risk of ending a viable, desired pregnancy.

    Diagnostic Process

    • Classic triad: Pain (98%), amenorrhea (74%), and vaginal bleeding (56%).
    • Ruptured ectopic:
      • Hemodynamic instability.
      • Peritoneal signs (rebound tenderness, cervical motion tenderness).
    • May have normal vital signs and minimal tenderness.
    • Localize the pregnancy with transabdominal U/S, then transvaginal U/S if necessary.
    • IUP visualization on ED POCUS effectively rules out an ectopic.
    • Heterotopic pregnancies are rare, but considered with assisted reproductive technologies, as probability is higher (around 1%).

    Barash et al. (2014), AAFP

    • Criteria for localization of pregnancy on US:

    CLICK TO ENLARGE

    • If PUL, risk stratify using β-hCG:
      • A discriminatory thresholds of β-hCG indicates when IUP usually can be seen on US but the utility of this threshold has been challenged. Most recent recommended thresholds are:
        • Transvaginal US: β-hCG > 2000 – 3000 IU/L (especially before 7 weeks GA)7 OR the more conservative β-hCG > 3,500 IU/L suggested by American guidelines.
        • Bedside abdominal US: β-hCG > 6,500 IU/L.
      • A β-hCG above the threshold and no IUP significantly increases the risk of ectopic.
      • An EP can rupture at any β-hCG level.
      • All symptomatic pregnant women presenting in the 1st trimester should have an US, irrespective of β-hCG.
    • If PUL, arrange an OB/GYN follow up and repeat β-hCG +/- TVUS in 48 hours.
      • β-hCG should rise > 55% over 48 hours in the first 7 weeks.
      • Failure to rise (falling or plateauing β-hCG) is indicative of a failing pregnancy (IUP or ectopic).
    • Subsequent β-hCG measurements and TVUS should be obtained 2–7 days apart, depending on the pattern of change.
    • The risk of rupture if there are no US findings of EP and no symptoms of rupture during diagnostic process is very low (0.03%). Therefore, there is limited risk in taking a few extra days to make a definitive diagnosis.

    CLICK TO ENLARGE

    CLICK TO ENLARGE

    Common Pitfalls

    1. Relying on the classic triad of abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and missed menses to consider an ectopic.
    2. Not considering a heterotopic pregnancy in a high-risk population when there is an IUP.
    3. Not considering a ruptured ectopic pregnancy when a patient has already taken methotrexate.
    4. Assuming an ectopic is ruled out with a low β-hCG.
    5. Confusing a “double sac sign” in the uterus as an IUP, when it could be a pseudogestational sac or intrauterine cyst.
    6. Assuming no products of conception on U/S signifies a completed spontaneous abortion, rather than an ectopic.
    7. Failure to arrange adequate follow up if no IUP is seen and the U/S is indeterminate.

    Quality Of Evidence?

    Justification

    All symptomatic pregnant women in the 1st trimester should receive a pelvic U/S, irrespective of β-hCG level.

    High

    Utility of a β-hCG discriminatory thresholds at 2000-3000 IU/L.

    Moderate

    Resources

    Related Information

    Reference List

    Relevant Resources

    RELEVANT CLINICAL RESOURCES

    View all Resources

    RESOURCE AUTHOR(S)

    COMMENTS (0)

    Add public comment…