HOW USEFUL IS SHOCK INDEX IN THE MANAGEMENT OF RUPTURED ECTOPIC PREGNANCY

Objective: To determine the usefulness of shock index in themanagement of ruptured ectopic pregnancy.Method: A retrospective review of cases of ruptured ectopicpregnancy at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital overa 10-year period (January, 1995 to December, 2004) was carriedout.Result: During the study period there were 15, 120 deliveries and136 cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancies, a prevalence of 0.9%.The mean age of the study population was 27.7±4.8 and the meanparity was 2.2±2.3.Majority of the patients (77.8%) had systolicblood pressure above 90mmhg but the diastolic blood pressurewas =60mmhg in 50.4% of the patients. The shock index was>0.70 in 92.3% of the cases and the packed cell volume <30% in60.7%. In 60.7% of the cases the amount of haemoperitoneumfound at laparatomy was >1000mls. Majority of the patients(64.1%) had blood transfusion. The preoperative packed cellvolume (PCV) had the strongest correlation with the amount ofhaemoperitoneum found at laparatomy (r= -0.648, p=0.000),followed by the shock index (r= 0.391, p=0.000). Only PCV<30% (P=0.000) and Shock index >0.70 (P=0.026) weresignificant predictors of haemoperitoneum above 1000ml.Conclusion: The shock index proved to be useful in the Author Affiliations:Corresponding Author:Keyword:Department of Obstetrics andGynaecology, University of MaiduguriTeaching Hospital, PMB 1414Maiduguri, NigeriaDr Ado D GeidamDepartment of Obstetrics andGynaecology, University of MaiduguriTeaching Hospital, PMB 1414Maiduguri, NigeriaEmail: adogeidam@yahoo.com5HOW USEFUL IS SHOCK INDEX IN THE MANAGEMENTOF RUPTURED ECTOPIC PREGNANCYGeidam ADAudu BMMairiga AGOriginal ArticleRuptured Ectopic pregnancy;haemoperitoneum; blood transfusion;vital signs; shock index.