Death From Ectopic Pregnancy
There are around 10,000 ectopic pregnancies in the UK every year. The NHS says nowadays death from an ectopic pregnancy is 'very rare' but sadly it does happen – normally due to a delay in diagnosis.
If your spouse or family member died because medical practitioners failed to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy in time, please do not hesitate to seek expert legal advice from a medical negligence solicitor.
While pursuing legal action can never undo the pain of losing a loved one, it can help to provide a sense of justice. It can also help to improve standards of care, ensuring future patients do not suffer fatal complications from an ectopic pregnancy.
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy is when an egg is fertilised outside of the uterus (womb). In most ectopic pregnancies the egg is fertilised by sperm while in the fallopian tube. In around 2% of cases, an ectopic pregnancy will occur in the ovary or cervix.
In a 'normal pregnancy' the egg will travel from the ovary, down the fallopian tube and into the uterus. There it is fertilised by sperm, creating an embryo which will eventually develop into a foetus and a baby.
The egg is fertilised in the uterus because it provides enough space for the development from embryo to baby. The fallopian tube, however, is unable to accommodate the growth of an embryo. An ectopic pregnancy cannot therefore be successful.
Who gets an ectopic pregnancy?
The NHS estimates that one in 90 pregnancies in the UK every year are ectopic. Anyone can suffer an ectopic pregnancy. A tubal pregnancy (when egg is fertilised in the fallopian tube) often happens because the tube is not working properly, or have been damaged in some way.
There are also some risk factors that can increase the chance of an ectopic pregnancy happening:
- Smoking
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – often caused by chlamydia
- Previous history of ectopic pregnancy
What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy usually arise five to 14 weeks into the pregnancy. It is possible that the problem will be diagnosed during routine tests before any symptoms develop.
The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include the following:
- Abdominal pain on one side of the abdomen
- Vaginal bleeding
- Shoulder tip pain
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
The most notable symptoms are abdominal pain and passing blood vaginally.
Diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy
If a patient presents with symptoms consistent with an ectopic pregnancy, the first step is to ascertain whether or not a patient is indeed pregnant. Because the symptoms can arise early in the pregnancy, a patient may not even be aware that she has conceived.
If a patient knows she is pregnant, or a urine test confirms that she is, an ectopic pregnancy should be strongly suspected. A diagnosis can be determined with a blood test and transvaginal ultrasound.
A blood test will show low levels of the hCG hormone, which can happen if the pregnancy is ectopic or the patient is going to miscarry. A transvaginal ultrasound involves inserted a thin tube with a camera on the end into the vagina. This will relay images of the uterus, showing whether the embryo is located in an abnormal position.
Very occasionally these tests will not verify an ectopic pregnancy but a patient's symptoms persist. If so medical practitioners should proceed with an investigative laparoscopy (keyhole surgery), as an ectopic pregnancy must be diagnosed and treated. Thus it is better to be safe and confirm/rule out a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.
What must happen to an ectopic pregnancy?
Sadly an ectopic pregnancy cannot be successful. The embryo must settle into the uterine wall and develop inside the uterus. Other areas of the reproductive system are not spacious enough to accommodate the growth of a baby. Therefore an ectopic pregnancy must be medically terminated.
Sometimes the embryo will die before medical intervention is given. It will be absorbed into the body's tissues and no treatment will be needed.
Treating an ectopic pregnancy
The method of treatment will depend upon how far advanced the pregnancy is. If an ectopic pregnancy is discovered in the very early stages, it is possible to treat a patient with medication alone. A drug called methotrexate will be injected, stopping the embryo from growing any further.
However, methotrexate treatment is only suitable in certain circumstances. Most women will need surgical treatment, which involves keyhole surgery to remove the fertilised egg. If it is a tubal pregnancy, the entire fallopian tube will be removed. This can be distressing for patients, but it is certainly possible to conceive with just one fallopian tube.
As mentioned above, there are times when the embryo will die without the need for medical treatment. If a patient is diagnosed in the early stages and has only mild symptoms, she can be monitored with blood tests to see if the fertilised egg dies. Nevertheless, close monitoring is vital or the embryo could continue to grow, leading to complications.
What happens if an ectopic pregnancy is not treated?
If an ectopic pregnancy is not treated and the embryo does not die, serious problems can arise. This is because the embryo will continue to develop, as it would have done in the uterus. The fallopian tube does not have the capacity to allow for this growth and will become distended. Eventually the fallopian tube will be so stretched that it splits open or 'ruptures'.
A ruptured fallopian tube will result in severe internal bleeding. This will cause the blood pressure to drop to a dangerously low level – a condition called septic shock. This can be potentially fatal.
Ectopic pregnancy death
In the UK it is very unusual for an ectopic pregnancy to cause a patient death. The NHS suggests that around three people will die in England each year from an ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy death medical negligence
Most ectopic pregnancy deaths occurs as a result of the problem not being diagnosed. If this is the fault of medical practitioners – be it GPs, nurses or hospital doctors – there may be a case of medical negligence.
For example, a clinician may not consider that a patient could be pregnant, or may suggest their symptoms are normal. Alternatively an ectopic pregnancy patient may not be monitored adequately, meaning treatment is not given in time.
If medical error leads to an ectopic pregnancy death, the family of the deceased should not hesitate to talk to a lawyer. It is very likely that there has been an incident of medical negligence, meaning there will be grounds to pursue legal action against those responsible.
For more information, please contact us at Glynns Solicitors.
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