RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening. Its treatment has changed radically during the last two decades. The study objective was to evaluate incidence and treatment of ectopic pregnancy in the Icelandic population during the decade 2000-2009. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information was collected about all diagnosed cases, place and method of treatment and admissions. The annual incidence was calculated with reference to number of pregnancies (n/1000), number of women aged 15-44 years (n/10 000) and by 5-year age groups, comparing the periods 2000-2004 and 2005-2009. RESULTS: The number of ectopic pregnancies during these 10 years was 836, or 444 during the years 2000-2004 and 392 during 2005-2009. The average annual incidence was 15.6/1000 pregnancies and 12.9/10 000 women. There was an annual incidence reduction from 17.3 to 14.1/1000 pregnancies (p<0.01) and 14.1 to 11.7/10 000 women (p<0.01). Surgery was the primary treatment for 94.9% of women, methotrexate in 3.2% and expectant management in 1.9%. Surgical management decreased from 98.0% to 91.3% between 5-year periods as medical treatment increased (0.4% to 6.4%; p<0.0001). The proportion of laparoscopic procedures increased from 80.5% to 91.1% (p<0.0001). In the university referral hospital this changed from 91.3% to 98.1% (p<0.001) and in rural hospitals from 44.0% to 69.3% (p<0.001). Mean hospital stay after open surgery was 3.2 days, but 0.9 days after laparoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence reduction of ectopic pregnancy is comparable to the development in neighbouring countries. Management has changed with increased use of laparoscopic surgery, medical and expectant treatment.