Factors that may predispose to rupture of tubal ectopic pregnancy

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate factors that may predis pose to rupture of tubal ectopic pregnancy. The study included 99 cases of ectopic pregnancies that were treated during the 5-year period 1992-1996. R esults: It was found that: (1) tubal rupture is encountered more often in w omen with no history of ectopic pregnancy and in those who have full-term p regnancy, suggesting that ectopic pregnancy is less suspected in these wome n; (2) tubal rupture is encountered less often in lower age ectopic pregnan cy; and (3) serum beta-hCG level does not predict tubal rupture. Conclusion s: Rupture of the tube is more often observed in women with a history of ec topic pregnancy and in women with full-term pregnancy. Such observations su ggest that ectopic pregnancy is less suspect in these cases. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.