Biomedical subjects

R G Dart

Publications and source records attributed to R G Dart.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Rate of change of serial beta-human chorionic gonadotropin values as a predictor of ectopic pregnancy in patients with indeterminate transvaginal ultrasound findings.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive value of the rate of change of serial beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) values in patients with symptoms suggestive of ectopic pregnancy but who have indeterminate transvaginal ultrasound findings, and to determine whether the predictive value was enhanced depending on whether the endometrial cavity was empty at ultrasound examination. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on consecutive emergency department patients from August 1, 1991, through August 1, 1998, presenting with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, a positive beta-hCG test result, and indeterminate transvaginal ultrasound findings. Patients were eligible for the study if they had a second beta-hCG assay performed within 7 days of the initial visit and before either a diagnostic dilation and evacuation or laparoscopy. Patients were excluded if they were lost to follow-up. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on the rate of change of beta-hCG values over a 48-hour interval (increase by >66%, increase by <66%, decrease by <50%, decrease by >50%). In addition, the 4 main groups were further subdivided depending on whether the endometrial cavity was empty at ultrasound examination. Intergroup differences in the frequency of ectopic pregnancy based on the rate of change of the beta-hCG value were compared using logistic regression. Logistic regression also was used to determine whether addition of the ultrasound result improved predicative accuracy. A P value of less than.05 was considered significant. Odds ratios (ORs) were determined for each subgroup. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-one eligible patients were identified; of these, 24 were excluded. Of the 307 enrolled patients, 33 (10.7%) had a final diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Intergroup differences in the frequency of ectopic pregnancy based on the beta-hCG rate of change were significant (P<.0001). Addition of the ultrasound result to this model further improved predicative accuracy (P<.0001). Overall, patients with increasing beta-hCG values were at increased risk compared with those with decreasing beta-hCG values, and patients with empty uteri at ultrasound were at increased risk compared with those with uteri that were not empty. Combining the beta-hCG rate of change with the ultrasound result identified 3 high-risk groups: patients with beta-hCG values that increased by less than 66% and an empty uterus at ultrasound (OR 24.8); patients with beta-hCG values that decreased by less than 50% and an empty uterus at ultrasound (OR 3.7); and patients with beta-hCG values that increased by more than 66% and an empty uterus at ultrasound (OR 2.6). Patients with beta-hCG values that decreased by more than 50% were found to be at low risk for ectopic pregnancy irrespective of the specific endometrial findings at ultrasound. CONCLUSION: The rate of change of serial beta-hCG values, in patients with an indeterminate pelvic ultrasound examination, is predictive of ectopic pregnancy. Addition of whether the endometrial cavity is empty at ultrasound leads to a further improvement in predictive accuracy.

Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human↗

PubMed1999

Predictive value of history and physical examination in patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To identify historical and physical examination findings that are predictive of ectopic pregnancy (EP) in pregnant patients with abdominal pain or bleeding. METHODS: This study was conducted in an urban academic emergency department as a prospective observational study of consecutive patients from August 1, 1991, to August 31, 1992, who had abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding and a positive beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level. Patients were excluded if they had a diagnostic ultrasound during a previous visit, or if the uterine size was larger than 12 weeks by pelvic examination. Data were analyzed using chi2 with a P value less than. 05 identified as significant. Odds ratios were determined for significant variables. A classification and regression tree analysis was then performed using the predictive variables to derive a decision tree. RESULTS: Four hundred forty-one patients were enrolled, 57 of whom (13%) had an EP. Factors by history that increased the risk of EP included pain that was described as moderate to severe, lateral, or sharp. Pain located in the midline decreased the risk of EP. A history of previous intrauterine device use, infertility, prior pelvic surgery, or tubal ligation were each found to be predictive. On physical examination, the presence of peritoneal signs, cervical motion tenderness, or lateral or bilateral abdominal or pelvic tenderness increased the risk of EP. A uterine size larger than 8 weeks by pelvic examination decreased the risk of EP. Combinations of predictive variables identified subsets of patients with either an increased or decreased frequency of EP, but in no case was a combination identified that would confirm or exclude this diagnosis with a high degree of certainty. CONCLUSION: History and physical examination findings predictive of EP were identified. However, no constellation of findings could confirm or exclude this diagnosis with a high degree of reliability.

Abdominal Pain↗

PubMed1999

Role of pelvic ultrasonography in evaluation of symptomatic first-trimester pregnancy.

Early identification of an abnormal pregnancy is important. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy before tubal rupture can prevent life-threatening hemorrhage. This article provides a review of the normal development in early pregnancy and correlates this with ultrasound findings, followed by a structured approach to the ultrasound examination. The specific findings in early pregnancy are reviewed, and the predictive value of these findings in identifying either a normal or abnormal intrauterine pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy are discussed.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

PubMed1999

The predictive value of endometrial stripe thickness in patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy who have an empty uterus at ultrasonography.

UNLABELLED: Prior research suggests that, in patients with empty uteri at ultrasonography, endometrial stripe thickness may be predictive of ectopic pregnancy or the likelihood of obtaining chorionic villi after a dilatation and evacuation procedure (D+E). However, it is unclear whether the predictive value of endometrial stripe thickness is confined to patients with low beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) values. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether endometrial stripe thickness is predictive of the risk of ectopic pregnancy or the likelihood of obtaining chorionic villi after D+E in patients with beta-hCG values >1,000 mIU/mL or < or =1,000 mIU/mL. METHODS: In an urban academic ED, the authors conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive ED patients from August 1991 to August 1997 with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, a positive beta-hCG value, and an empty uterus by transvaginal ultrasound examination. Patients were divided into four groups-group 1: endometrium thin, beta-hCG value < or =1,000 mIU/mL; group 2: endometrium thick, beta-hCG value < or =1,000 mIU/mL; group 3: endometrium thin, beta-hCG value >1,000 mIU/ mL; and group 4: endometrium thick, beta-hCG value >1,000 mIU/mL. The secondary analysis was limited to patients who had a D+E performed within 48 hours of the ED visit. The risks of ectopic pregnancy and the likelihoods of obtaining chorionic villi after D+E were compared using chi-square or Fishers' exact test where appropriate, with a p-value of 0.05 being significant. RESULTS: 224 patients were enrolled in the initial analysis. Intergroup differences in the frequency of ectopic pregnancy were of borderline significance (p = 0.08). However, when the comparison was limited to the groups with beta-hCG values < or =1,000 mIU/mL, the predictive value of endometrial stripe thickness reached statistical significance (group 1: 27/99 [27%], group 2: 2/28 [7%], p = 0.05). 79 patients had a D+E performed. Intergroup differences in the rate of obtaining chorionic villi were significant (p = 0.002). Group 1 had the lowest frequency of having chorionic villi identified (4/26 [15%]) and was the only group in which villi were obtained in fewer than 50% of cases. CONCLUSION: Endometrial stripe thickness may be predictive of the risk of ectopic pregnancy and the likelihood of obtaining chorionic villi at D+E. However, its predictive value appears to be confined to patients with beta-hCG values < or =1,000 mIU/mL.

Academic Medical Centers↗

PubMed1997

Transvaginal ultrasound in patients with low beta-human chorionic gonadotropin values: how often is the study diagnostic?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine how often pelvic ultrasonography diagnoses or excludes ectopic pregnancy (EP) in patients who present with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding and a beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) level lower than 1,000 mIU/mL. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of all patients who presented to the ED of an urban teaching hospital from August 1991 through July 1995 with lower abdominal pain or bleeding, a positive beta-hCG assay, and a quantitative beta-hCG value lower than 1,000 mIU/mL in whom pelvic transvaginal ultrasound was performed within 24 hours of the ED visit. Ultrasound procedures were performed in the radiology department by ultrasound technicians under the direct supervision of an attending radiologist or resident in radiology. Patients were excluded if they had recently delivered or undergone dilatation and curettage, had had a previous ultrasound examination during this pregnancy, had decreasing beta-hCG values, or were lost to follow-up before a definitive diagnosis was made. RESULTS: : A total of 111 patients met the inclusion criteria; 19 patients (17%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10% to 24%) had diagnostic ultrasound findings. Of these, 10 findings were diagnostic of intrauterine pregnancy and 9 for EP. The beta-hCG values for the patients with diagnostic examinations ranged from 47 to 995 mIU/mL. Twenty-three study patients ultimately received a diagnosis of EP; of these, 9 (39%; CI, 19% to 59%) had a diagnostic initial ultrasound study. Five of the nine had beta-hCG values lower than 500 mIU/mL. CONCLUSION: Approximately one third of women with EP who present with beta-hCG values lower than 1,000 mIU/mL were identified with an urgent transvaginal ultrasound examination performed by trained ultrasound technicians. Clinicians should consider the use of pelvic ultrasound in patients with suspected EP, regardless of their beta-hCG values, particularly at institutions where ultrasound is readily available.

Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human↗

PubMed1996

Ectopic pregnancy: prospective study with improved diagnostic accuracy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of ultrasonography, quantitative serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) level, history, and physical examination in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (EP) in the emergency department. METHODS: We prospectively studied 481 consecutive pregnant patients who presented to an urban ED with first-trimester abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding. History, physical examination findings, quantitative beta-hCG values, sonography findings, surgical findings, and final diagnosis were collected after patient enrollment in the study. We assessed the proportions of pregnant patients experiencing pain or bleeding with EPs versus those with abnormal and normal intrauterine pregnancies (IUPs). RESULTS: Pregnant women with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding received beta-hCG values; positive radioimmunoassays prompted ultrasonography; indeterminate ultrasonography findings resulted in admission. Thirteen percent of patients had confirmed EPs; 99.5% of patients discharged from the ED had documented IUPs. Transvaginal sonography in the ED established EP or IUP in 75%. For EP detection, sonography is 69% sensitive and 99% specific. Single beta-hCG levels are useful in predicting EP; a beta-hCG value of 1,000 mIU/mL or lower shows a fourfold higher risk of EP. History and physical examination do not reliably diagnose or rule out EP; of EP patients, 9% reported no pain and 36% lacked adnexal tenderness. CONCLUSION: To prevent delayed diagnosis of EP in urban centers, pregnant women with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding require evaluation by transvaginal ultrasonography. Indeterminate ultrasonography findings necessitate further evaluation. A beta-hCG level of 1,000 mIU/mL or lower should heighten suspicion of EP.

Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human↗