[Impact of the quality of ultrasound scan performed in gynecological emergencies in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy].

OBJECTIVES

There are no recommendations on the way emergency ultrasound should be performed but there are Standardized Acute Female Echography (SAFE) planes with quality criteria for ultrasound scoring. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the quality of ultrasound on the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted in 2016-2017 and included all Ectopic Pregnancies (EP). Clinical, biological and ultrasonographic characteristics were collected, in particular the analysis of ultrasound scans according to the scoring score of standardized planes (total score out of 15). EP diagnosed at first ultrasound and those from Pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) were compared.

RESULTS

Hundred and seventeen patients were included: 45 (38.5%) in the group "EP from PLU" and 72 (61.5%) in the group "EP diagnosed directly". The ultrasound images were significantly better in the "directly diagnosed EP" group than in the "EP from PUL" group: 11.9/15 vs. 10.07/15 respectively (P=0.005). Moreover, in the group "EP from PUL", the images were significantly better on the final ultrasound diagnosing the EP compared to the first ultrasound performed: 11.4/15 vs. 10.07/17 (P=0.04).

CONCLUSION

The evaluation of quality of ultrasound scan using a standardized scoring system shows an impact in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies.