ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of ectopic pregnancy, highlights the importance of its timely diagnosis, and addresses a variety of modern diagnostic and therapeutic options. Ectopic pregnancy is defined as the implantation of a fertilized oocyte outside the uterine cavity. It is a potential complication in the first trimester of pregnancy and used to be a common reason for maternal mortality in early pregnancy. Ascertaining the patient's medical history is the first step of the diagnostic procedure. The clinician could inquire about risk factors such as previous surgeries, pregnancies, gynecologic diseases such as infection, fertility treatment, and prior EP. The current gold standard for surgical treatment of an EP is laparoscopy, which has replaced laparotomy. Laparoscopy is associated with less intraoperative blood loss, shorter postoperative hospital stays, and less overall hospital costs than laparotomy. Medical treatment is an alternative to surgery and is only recommended in the early weeks of pregnancy.
