Ectopic pregnancy after sterilization.

In a retrospective survey of 24 cases of ectopic pregnancy after sterilization it was found that, in most cases, there was a delay in diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy because of the history of previous sterilization. The sterilization operation was commonly performed post partum or after abortion. Patients who had been sterilized by laparoscopic tubal cautery were more likely to have ruptured ectopic pregnancy with acute blood loss and shock than those who had open tubal ligation which was associated with a more chronic form of this condition.