MANAGEMENT OF ECTOPIC PREGNANCY: LITERARY REVIEW

Abstract

Ectopic pregnancy is one of the most common conditions at the beginning of pregnancy and one of the main reasons for complaints of intense abdominal pain in emergency services. Its mortality rate is estimated between 9% and 20%. Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the blastocyst attaches and grows outside the uterine cavity, mainly in the fallopian tube. Classic symptoms include abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and changes in the menstrual cycle. Diagnosis is based on confirming pregnancy through measurement of beta-hCG levels in the blood and transvaginal ultrasound. Treatment can be surgical (conservative or radical) or clinical, and the choice depends on the patient's health, the integrity of the ectopic pregnancy, reproductive desires, among other factors. Awareness of the signs and risk factors, along with the use of accurate diagnostic methods, is essential for early identification and appropriate treatment of ectopic pregnancy. This article is an integrative literature review, carried out in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO) and PubMed databases, using the keywords “ectopic pregnancy” and “ruptured ectopic pregnancy”. The analysis comprised a review of studies published between 2008 and 2023, addressing various aspects of the condition, such as epidemiology, risk factors, clinical picture, diagnosis, management and treatments.