Clinical pattern of extra-uterine gestation in peri-urban Kenya.

One hundred and sixty five cases of extra-uterine pregnancy (EP) were managed in Thika District in peri-urban Kenya between January 1985 and June 1988, giving an incidence of 66:10,000 deliveries. 55.8% of the patients were in the age group 23-27 years, and 88.5% were para 0-2. 78.8% of the extra-uterine pregnancies were ruptured at the time of diagnosis. Paracentesis was performed in 126 cases with 13.5% false negatives. There were seven false positive paracentesis. All the false positives had conditions that would probably have required surgical intervention in any case. There were two patients encountered with advanced abdominal pregnancy. Total salpingectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy was performed in 50.9% of the patients--a case could be put forward for more conservative surgery in anticipation of future fertility.