National rates, trends and determinants of inpatient surgical management of tubal ectopic pregnancy in the United States, 1998-2011.

AIM

To describe the frequency and temporal trends of inpatient hospitalization for tubal ectopic pregnancy as well as patients' characteristics, determinants and the current national trends in surgical management of ectopic pregnancy.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of patients who were treated for tubal ectopic pregnancy in an inpatient hospital setting in the United States from 1998 to 2011 using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases. National frequency and significant changes in the rate of surgical management of tubal ectopic pregnancy in the inpatient setting are described.

RESULTS

The study included 334 639 tubal ectopic pregnancies for women aged 18-50 in the United States from 1998 to 2011. The rate of tubal ectopic pregnancy (per 10 000 maternal admissions) decreased from 77.2 in 1998 to 40.5 in 2011. The proportion of tubal ectopic pregnancies for which salpingostomy was performed decreased from 17.0% in 1998 to 7.0% in 2011, while the rate of salpingectomy increased from 69.3% in 1998 to 80.9% in 2011. The temporal change in surgical choice was not different in states with comprehensive in vitro fertilization insurance mandates.

CONCLUSION

The rate of tubal ectopic pregnancy managed in the inpatient setting in the United States decreased 5% annually between 1998 and 2011. The rate of salpingectomies performed annually increased whereas that of salpingostomy decreased over time. The surgical approach selected for the management of tubal ectopic pregnancies was not influenced by a state's in vitro fertilization mandate status.