ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the successful outcome in medical versus expectant management in patients with unruptured tubal pregnancy having β-hcg 1000-3000 IU/L.

Materials & Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, total 90 patients of ectopic pregnancy having age 18-40 years and having size of ectopic mass< 4cm were selected from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Combined Military Hospital, Bahawalpur from March 20 to September 20.  Group A included patients in which expectant management was done while Group B included the patients in which medical management (single intramuscular injection of methotrexate in a dose of 50mg/m²) was done.  After one week, successful outcome was compared between the both groups. 

Results: Total 90 women with tubal ectopic pregnancy were selected for this study.  Comparison of successful outcome between the bot study groups was done. Mean age of the patients was 31.66 ± 6.44 years, mean gestational age was 7.83 ± 2.33 weeks and mean β-hcg levels 1565.45 ± 517.89 IU/L.   In study group A, outcome was found successful in 40 (88.89%) patients and 31 (68.89%) patients of group B was found with successful outcome.  After applying chi-square test, difference of successful outcome between the both groups was found statistically significant with p value 0.037.

Conclusion: This study concluded that expectant management is associated with better outcome (β-hcg levels negligible i.e. <10 IU/L and complete resolution on ultrasonography (absence of adnexal mass, pelvic free fluid, gestational sac) within one week) as compared to medical management in women with tubal ectopic pregnancy having β-hcg between 1000-3000 IU/L