THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ECTOPIC PREGNANCY: A RETROSPECTIVE COMPARISON

Authors : Sıtkı Özbilgeç, Fatih Akkuş, Sevcan Sarıkaya, Emin Erhan Dönmez, Rahime Berfin Durmaz, Ali Acar

Pages : 196-202

Doi:10.38136/jgon.1568925

View : 47 | Download : 17

Publication Date : 2025-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment processes of ectopic pregnancies (EP) at a tertiary hospital in Turkey. Methods: This retrospective study compared 221 cases of tubal EP diagnosed after March 15, 2020, with 217 cases diagnosed before this date. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment modalities were analyzed. Statistical analyses, including independent t-tests, Chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression, were conducted to assess differences between the COVID and pre-COVID periods. Results: The study found no significant differences in maternal age, gravidity, parity, or gestational weeks between the COVID and pre-COVID periods. However, there was a notable increase in patients presenting with abdominal pain (52.5% vs. 37.8%) and intraperitoneal hemorrhage (26.7% vs. 7.4%) during the COVID period. Despite the higher frequency of abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding was less common during the pandemic. Treatment approaches also shifted, with a significant increase in medical management (41.2% vs. 29.0%) and a slight decrease in surgical interventions during the COVID period. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that parity, gestational week, presence of Douglas fluid, and the period of diagnosis (COVID vs. pre-COVID) were significant predictors of treatment modality. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the clinical presentation and management of ectopic pregnancies in our hospital. While there were no significant differences in key demographic or laboratory parameters, the increased presence of abdominal fluid and a shift towards medical management during the pandemic period suggest changes in patient presentation and treatment preferences. This study underscores the importance of maintaining vigilant diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for EP, even during global health crises.
Keywords : Ektopik Gebelik, COVID-19 Pandemisi, Tanı, Tedavi Yöntemleri, Anne Sağlığı

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