How useful is shock index in the management of ruptured ectopic pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To determine the usefulness of shock index in the management of ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Method: A retrospective review of cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancy at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital over a 10-year period (January, 1995 to December, 2004) was carried out.

Result: During the study period there were 15, 120 deliveries and 136 cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancies, a prevalence of 0.9%. The mean age of the study population was 27.7±4.8 and the mean parity was 2.2±2.3.Majority of the patients (77.8%) had systolic blood pressure above 90mmhg but the diastolic blood pressure was =60mmhg in 50.4% of the patients. The shock index was >0.70 in 92.3% of the cases and the packed cell volume <30% in 60.7%. In 60.7% of the cases the amount of haemoperitoneum found at laparatomy was >1000mls. Majority of the patients (64.1%) had blood transfusion. The preoperative packed cell volume (PCV) had the strongest correlation with the amount of haemoperitoneum found at laparatomy (r= -0.648, p=0.000), followed by the shock index (r= 0.391, p=0.000). Only PCV <30% (P=0.000) and Shock index >0.70 (P=0.026) were significant predictors of haemoperitoneum above 1000ml.

Conclusion: The shock index proved to be useful in the of shock index in the management of patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancy.