Advanced extrauterine pregnancy: description of 38 cases with literature survey.

An analysis is presented of 38 patients with advanced extrauterine pregnancy. First three typical cases are described that emphasize the marked differentiation of clinical symptoms which these patients present to the doctor. The first patient was referred for induction because of a suspected intrauterine death. The second patient presented an intraligamentous pregnancy with a living fetus. In the third case, the patient was admitted to hospital after 32 weeks of pregnancy because of a persistent oblique lie. At 34 weeks, a normal living fetus was born. In all three cases, ultrasound examination was able to visualize the separate uterus. A literature survey is given with special attention to the specific "clinic" and the problems concerning diagnosis and treatment. It is obvious that sonography is the most important diagnostic technique at present. The decision to remove the placenta by means of a laparotomy is brought up for discussion.