What is known about the topic?
There is a paucity of data that is useful for emergency department (ED) physicians counseling women with symptomatic early pregnancies about the future risk of ectopic pregnancy.
What did this study ask?
What are the clinical outcomes of pregnant women discharged from the ED where ectopic pregnancy had not yet been excluded?
What did this study find?
Of the 230 ectopic pregnancies, 5.1% patients had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy after their index ED visit.
Why does this study matter to clinicians?
Given the risk of a final diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and more importantly possible rupture, patient education of these risks is critical on discharge from the ED.