Outpatient management of ectopic pregnancies.

The number of ectopic pregnancies has dramatically increased over the past several years. Newer diagnostic methods have resulted in earlier detection and an increase in the percentage of cases without rupture. Early diagnosis allows not only the option of conservative operation but also management of many cases on an outpatient basis. This article reviews the last 23 ectopic pregnancies that I personally managed and discusses the management that allowed outpatient care in 15 of these patients. In retrospect, all but two patients could probably have been discharged directly home.