Chief site of ectopic pregnancy is?

ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (Shift -2)

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (Shift -2)

Explanation

An ectopic pregnancy is defined as the implantation of a fertilized ovum outside the uterine cavity.
The fallopian tube is the most common anatomical location for an ectopic pregnancy, accounting for approximately 97% of all cases.
Within the fallopian tube, the ampulla is the most frequent site of implantation (about 70-80% of tubal pregnancies), followed by the isthmus.

Option B: Cervical pregnancies are extremely rare, constituting less than 1% of all ectopic pregnancies.
Option C: Ovarian pregnancies are also uncommon, accounting for only about 1-3% of ectopic implantations.
Option D: This is a general definition of an ectopic pregnancy, not a specific anatomical site. The question asks for the 'chief site,' which requires identifying the most common location.

Visual 1: Diagram - An illustration showing the various possible sites of an ectopic pregnancy. This visual should clearly label the fallopian tube (ampulla, isthmus, fimbria), ovary, cervix, and abdominal cavity, with percentages indicating the frequency of implantation at each site. This helps to visually reinforce that the fallopian tube is the most common location.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of the most common site for an ectopic pregnancy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Ectopic pregnancy is a major cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester, primarily due to life-threatening hemorrhage from rupture.
Nurses must be vigilant in recognizing the classic triad of symptoms: amenorrhea (missed period), unilateral lower abdominal pain, and vaginal spotting or bleeding.
A critical nursing intervention is to assess for signs of hypovolemic shock (e.g., hypotension, tachycardia, pallor, dizziness), which indicate a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and constitute a medical emergency requiring immediate surgical intervention.

How to Approach the Question

First, understand the question is asking for the 'chief site,' which means the most common or primary location.
Define the key term 'ectopic pregnancy' as any pregnancy where the fertilized egg implants outside the main cavity of the uterus.
Evaluate the given options. 'Fallopian tube,' 'Cervix,' and 'Ovary' are specific anatomical locations. 'Outside uterus' is a general description.
The question asks for a 'site,' making the specific anatomical locations more likely candidates than the general description.
Recall or deduce the relative frequencies of implantation at these different sites. The vast majority of ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube.
Eliminate 'Cervix' and 'Ovary' as they are rare sites. Eliminate 'Outside uterus' because it is a definition, not the most common specific site.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of the most common site for an ectopic pregnancy.
Stem keywords: Chief site, ectopic pregnancy
Lead-in keywords: is

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