D.O.D #10 - Ectopic Pregnancy

Question 1

appendectomy

Answer 1

surgery where appendix is removed

Question 2

what does symptoms of vaginal bleeding, lightheadedness, emesis, and syncope mean for this patient?

Answer 2

lack of blood flow, which means fallopian tube has ruptured

Question 3

syncope

Answer 3

loss of consciousness

Question 4

IUD

Answer 4

intrauterine device (birth control)

Question 5

PID

Answer 5

pelvic inflammatory disease

Question 6

gonorrhea

Answer 6

sexually transmitted bacterial infection (can cause infertility)

Question 7

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease can cause:

Answer 7

swollen fallopian tube, scar tissue, fatigue, infection, and pelvic pain

Question 8

pallor

Answer 8

loss of color to skin or mucus membranes; pale skin

Question 9

cervical motion

Answer 9

unpleasant feeling

Question 10

adnexal mass

Answer 10

a lump in tissue near the uterus (fallopian tube)

Question 11

EP

Answer 11

ectopic pregnancy

Question 12

if pregnancy is not in the uterus, what is it?

Answer 12

ectopic

Question 13

Beta-HCG

Answer 13

human chorionic gonadotropin: measures hormone level for pregnancy

Question 14

why does ectopic pregnancy occur? (fallopian)

Answer 14

the egg gets stuck inside the tube on the way to the uterus and begins to develop inside the tube (tubal pregnancy)

Question 15

implantation can also occur:

Answer 15

in the cervix, ovaries, and abdominal cavity

Question 16

what happens if you do not treat ectopic pregnancy?

Answer 16

the growing tissue may rupture, resulting in destruction in surrounding maternal structure and massive blood loss (life threatening)

Question 17

signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy:

Answer 17

positive pregnancy test for hCG, abdominal pain, vaginal pain, shoulder pain

Question 18

what happens if the tube ruptures

Answer 18

it’s a medical emergency; there is heavy bleeding, fainting, shock

Question 19

causes of ectopic pregnancy:

Answer 19

problems transporting the fertilized egg through tube, cilium degeneration, inflammation and swelling of fallopian tube (egg gets stuck)

Question 20

what risk factors are there for ectopic pregnancy that make it more likely to happen:

Answer 20

inflammation of fallopian tube/infection, use of IUD, surgeries, previous ectopic pregnancy, abnormal tube shape due to birth defects, smoking, exposure to some fertility drugs, being a daughter of a woman who took DES (a diet pill) during pregnancy

Question 21

why is previous ectopic pregnancy a risk factor?

Answer 21

they have to cut out previous fetus from fallopian tube, causes scarring and inflammation

Question 22

how do you diagnose ectopic pregnancy

Answer 22

blood test for hCG and a transvaginal ultrasound

Question 23

treatment (if detected early)

Answer 23

methotrexate injection (chemo therapy) to desolve pregnancy tissue, laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery

Question 24

treatment (if tube has ruptured)

Answer 24

emergency open surgery; ruptured tube is removed

Question 25

follow up after treatment

Answer 25

monitor hCG levels to ensure entirety of ectopic tissue has been removed; if levels remain high, requires further treatment