Ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a dangerous complication in pregnancy and a life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate surgery.

In a normal healthy pregnancy the fertilised egg moves down to the uterus and settles into the prepared uterine lining, where it has plenty of room to divide and grow. In an ectopic pregnancy the egg attaches itself to the wall of the fallopian tube instead (or very rarely to other locations such as the cervix or ovary). As the embryo grows, the tube becomes stretched and inflamed and the person experiences extreme pain. An ectopic pregnancy must be removed surgically as soon as it is detected or the fallopian tube will burst, immediately causing gynecologic hemorrhage and endangering the life of the mother.

A case in Montreal in August 2003 in which a fetus in an ectopic pregnancy was successfully carried to term and delivered by Caesarean section is an example of a very rare medical event, possible only when the site of implantation is outside the fallopian tube - in this instance, the abdominal surface of the uterus. The woman and her doctors were unaware of her condition until she was delivered. There are only a dozen or so known cases of this in the world.