Ms Emma Kirk

Job title

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 

Qualifications

MBBS BSc MD MRCOG

GMC Number

4620989

Related services

Gynaecology, Obstetrics

Biography

Ms Kirk is a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Royal Free Hospital, London.   She is the clinical lead for Early Pregnancy and Emergency Gynaecology.

Ms Kirk is passionate about driving advances in her field and worked as a research fellow for many years. She has published extensively in established research journals on many different areas of early pregnancy, with more than 50 publications. She holds a number of leading positions including Coordinator of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology Special Interest Group in Early Pregnancy, Executive member of the Association of Early Pregnancy Units and a medical advisor to the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.

Miss Kirk is also very involved with teaching and frequently lectures on different aspects of early pregnancy. She co-organises the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advanced training skill course on Early Pregnancy and Emergency Gynaecology. She regularly lectures on gynaecological ultrasound courses.

Publications

Papers in peer reviewed journals :

  1. Van Calster B, Bobdiwala S, Guha S, Van Hoorde K, Al-Memar M, Harvey R, Farren J, Kirk E, Condous G, Sur S, Stalder C, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2016).
  2. Managing pregnancy of unknown location based on initial serum progesterone and serial serum hCG levels: development and validation of a two-step triage protocol. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 48(5):642-649.
  3. Cooke WR, Kirk E (2015). Medically managed tubal ectopic pregnancy presenting as a peritoneal loose body.BMJ Case Rep. Sep 3;2015.
  4. Bourne T, Bennett P, Bobdiwala S, Coomarasamy A, Ghaem-Maghami S, Guha S, Horne A, Joash K, Kirk E, Lees C, Al-Memar M, Papageorghiou A, Raine-Fenning N, Sur S, Timmerman D, Ugwamadu A (2015). Dharmasena case illustrates what is wrong with complaints procedures. BMJ. 2015 Mar 4;350:h1130. doi: 10.1136/bmj.h1130.
  5. Guha S, Ayim F, Ludlow J, Sayasneh A, Condous G, Kirk E, Stalder C, Timmerman D, Bourne T, Van Calster B (2014). Triaging pregnancies of unknown location: the performance of protocols based on single serum progesterone or repeated serum hCG levels. Hum Reprod. 29(5):938-45.
  6. Bora SA, Kirk E, Bourne T (2014). Do women with pain and bleeding in early pregnancy require a vaginal speculum examination as part of their assessment? Gynecol Obstet Invest. 77(1):29-34
  7. Kirk E, Bottomley C, Bourne T (2014). Diagnosing ectopic pregnancy and current concepts in the management of pregnancy of unknown location. Hum Reprod Update. 20(2):250-61.
  8. Kirk E, McDonald K, Rees J, Govind A (2013).  Intramural ectopic pregnancy: a case and review of the literature. Eur J Obstet Gynecol 168(2):129-33.
  9. Bourne T, Barnhart K, Benson CB, Brosens J, Van Calster B, Condous G, Coomerasamy A, Doubilet PM, Goldstein SR, Gould D, Kirk E, Mol BW, Raine-Fenning N, Stalder C, Timmerman D (2013). NICE guidance on ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage restricts access and choice and may be clinically unsafe. BMJ. 2013 Jan 22;346:f197.
  10. Van Calster B, Abdallah Y, Guha S, Kirk E, Van Hoorde K, Condous G, Preisler J, Hoo W, Stalder C, Bottomley C, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2012).  Rationalising the management of pregnancies of unknown location: temporal and external validation of a risk prediction model on 1962 pregnancies.  Hum Reprod 28(3):609-16.
  11. Bottomley C, Van Belle V, Kirk E, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2012). Accurate prediction of pregnancy viability by means of a simple scoring system.  Hum Reprod 28: 68-76.
  12. Kirk E (2012). Ultrasound in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.  Clin Obstet Gynecol 55(2): 395-401.
  13. Daemen A, Timmerman D, Van den Bosch T, Bottomley C, Kirk E, Van Holsbeke C, Valentin L, Bourne T, De Moor B (2012). Improved modelling of clinical data with kernel methods. Artif Intell Med. 54(2):103-14.
  14. Sivalingam VN, Duncan WC, Kirk E, Shephard LA, Horne AW (2011).  Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy.  J Fam Plan Reprod Health Care. 37(4): 231-40.
  15. Abdallah Y, Daemen A, Kirk E, Pexsters A, Naji O, Stalder C, Gould D, Ahmed S, Guha S, Syed S, Bottomley C, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2011). Limitations of current definitions of miscarriage using mean gestational sac diameter and crown-rump length measurements: a multicenter observational study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 38(5):497-502.
  16. Abdallah Y, Daemen A, Guha S, Syed S, Naji O, Pexsters A, Kirk E, Stalder C, Gould D, Ahmed S, Bottomley C, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2011). Gestational sac and embryonic growth are not useful as criteria to define miscarriage: a multicenter observational study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 38(5):503-9.
  17. Kirk E, Bourne T (2011).  Ectopic pregnancy.  Obs Gyn Reprod Med. 21 (7): 207-211.
  18. Bottomley C, Van Belle V, Pexsters A, Papageorghiou AT, Mukri F, Kirk E, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2011). A model and scoring system to predict outcome of intrauterine pregnancies of uncertain viability. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 37(5):588-95.
  19. Kirk E, Van Calster B, Condous G, Papageorghiou AT, Gevaert O, Van Huffel S, DE Moor B, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2011). Ectopic pregnancy: using the hCG ratio to select women for expectant or medical management. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 90: 264-272.
  20. Bora SA, Kirk E, Daemen A, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2011). Is Serum Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Follow-Up Necessary after Suspected Spillage of Trophoblast at the Time of Laparoscopic Surgery for Ectopic Pregnancy? Gynecol Obstet Invest. 71: 225-228.
  21. Barnhart K, van Mello NM, Bourne T, Kirk E, Van Calster B, Bottomley C, Chung K, Condous G, Goldstein S, Hajenius PJ, Mol BW, Molinaro T, O'Flynn O'Brien KL, Husicka R, Sammel M, Timmerman D (2011). Pregnancy of unknown location: a consensus statement of nomenclature, definitions, and outcome. Fertil Steril.  95(3):857-66.
  22. Barnhart KT, Sammel MD, Appleby D, Rausch M, Molinaro T, Van Calster B, Kirk E, Condous G, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2010).  Does a prediction model for pregnancy of unknown location developed in the UK validate on a US population? Hum Rep 25:2434-40.
  23. Kirk E, Papageorghiou AT, Van Calster B, Condous G, Cowans N, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Spencer K, Bourne T(2009).  The use of serum inhibin A and activin A in predicting the outcome of ‘pregnancies of unknown location’. Hum Reprod. 24:2451-6.
  24. Bora SA, Bourne T, Bottomley C, Kirk E, Papageorghiou AT (2009). Twin growth discrepancy in early pregnancy. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 34:38-42.
  25. Bottomley C, Van Belle V, Mukri F, Kirk E, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2009). The optimal timing of an ultrasound scan to assess the location and viability of an early pregnancy. Hum Reprod.24:1811-7.
  26. Kirk E, Bourne T (2009). Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy with ultrasound. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol.23:501-8.
  27. Kirk E, Condous G, Bourne T (2009). Pregnancies of unknown location. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 23:493-9.
  28. Van Calster B, Condous G, Kirk E, Bourne T, Timmerman D, Van Huffel S (2009). An application of methods for the probabilistic three-class classification of pregnancies of unknown location. Artif Intell Med. 46:139-54.
  29. Bottomley C, Daemen A, Mukri F, Papageorghiou AT, Kirk E, Pexsters A, De Moor B, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2009). Assessing first trimester growth: the influence of ethnic background and maternal age. Hum Reprod. 24:284-90.
  30. Bottomley C, Daemen A, Mukri F, Papageorghiou AT, Kirk E, Pexsters A, De Moor B, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2009). Functional linear discriminant analysis: a new longitudinal approach to the assessment of embryonic growth. Hum Reprod. 24:278-83.
  31. Kirk E, Bourne T (2008).  Predicting outcomes in pregnancies of unknown location.  Women’s Health 4: 491-499.
  32. Kirk E, Daemen A, Papageorghiou AT, Bottomley C, Condous G, De Moor B, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2008). Why are some ectopic pregnancies characterized as pregnancies of unknown location at the initial transvaginal ultrasound examination? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 87:1150-4.
  33. Mukri F, Bourne T, Bottomley C, Schoeb C, Kirk E, Papageorghiou AT (2008). Evidence of early first-trimester growth restriction in pregnancies that subsequently end in miscarriage. BJOG. 115:1273-8.
  34. Bora SA, Papageorghiou AT, Bottomley C, Kirk E, Bourne T (2008). Reliability of transvaginal ultrasonography at 7-9 weeks' gestation in the determination of chorionicity and amnionicity in twin pregnancies. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol.  32:618-21.
  35. Kirk E, Bora S, Van Calster B, Condous G, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2008).  Chlamydia trachomatis infection in patients attending an Early Pregnancy Unit: Prevalence, symptoms, pregnancy location and viability.  Acta Obstet Gynecol  87: 601-607.
  36. Bignardi T, Condous G, Alhamdan D, Kirk E, Van Calster B, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2008).  The hCG ratio can predict the ultimate viability of the intra-uterine pregnancies of uncertain viability in the pregnancies of unknown location population.  Hum Reprod. 23: 1964-7.
  37. Kirk E, Papageorghiou AT, Condous G, Tan L, Bora S, Bourne T (2007). The diagnostic effectiveness of an initial transvaginal scan in detecting ectopic pregnancy. Hum Reprod. 22:2824-8.
  38. Condous G, Van Calster B, Kirk E, Haider Z, Timmerman D, Van Huffel S, Bourne T (2007). Prediction of ectopic pregnancy in women with a pregnancy of unknown location. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 29:680-7.
  39. Kirk E, Condous G, Van Calster B, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2007). Rationalizing the follow-up of pregnancies of unknown location. Hum Reprod.  22:1744-50.
  40. Kirk E, Papageorghiou AT, Condous G, Bottomley C, Bourne T (2007).  The accuracy of first trimester ultrasound in the diagnosis of hydatidiform mole.  Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 29: 70-75.
  41. Condous G, Van Calster B, Kirk E, Haider Z, Timmerman D, Van Huffel S, Bourne T (2007).  Clinical information does not improve the performance of mathematical models in predicting the outcome of pregnancies of unknown location.  Fertil Steril 88:572-80.
  42. Haider Z, Condous G, Kirk E, Mukri F, Bourne T (2007).  The simple outpatient management of Bartholin’s abscess using the Word catheter: a preliminary study.  ANZJOG 47: 135-138.
  43. Condous G, Van Calster B, Kirk E, Timmerman D, Van Huffel S, Bourne T (2007). Prospective cross-validation of three methods of predicting failing pregnancies of unknown location. Hum Reprod. 22:1156-60.
  44. Kirk E, Bourne T (2006).  The nonsurgical management of ectopic pregnancy.  Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 18:587-593.
  45. Kirk E, Condous G, Van Calster B, Haider Z, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2007).  A validation of the most commonly used protocol to predict the success of single dose methotrexate in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy. Hum Reprod  22:858-63.
  46. Haider Z, Ahmed S, Kirk E, Condous G, Bourne T (2006).  Transvaginal sonographic diagnosis of appendicitis in acute pelvic pain.  J Ultrasound Med 25: 1243-1244.
  47. Haider Z, Condous G, Khalid A, Kirk E, Mukri F, Van Calster B, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2006). Impact of the availability of ultrasonography in the acute gynaecology unit. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 28: 207-213.
  48. Condous G, Kirk E, Lu C, Van Calster B, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2006).  There is no role for uterine curettage in the contemporary diagnostic workup of women with a pregnancy of unknown location.  Hum Reprod  21: 2706 – 2710.
  49. Kirk E, Papageorghiou AT, Condous G, Bottomley C, Bourne T (2006).  Hyperemesis gravidarum: is an ultrasound scan necessary? Hum Reprod 21: 9: 2440-2442.
  50. Condous G, Kirk E, Van Calster B, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T. Failing pregnancies of unknown location: a prospective evaluation of the human chorionic gonadotrophin ratio. BJOG 2006; 113: 521-527.
  51. Gevaert O, De Smet F, Kirk E, Van Calster B, Bourne T, Van Huffel S, Moreau Y, Timmerman D, De Moor B, Condous G (2006).  Predicting the outcome of pregnancies of unknown location: Bayesian networks with expert prior information compared to logistic regression. Hum Reprod. 21: 1824-31.
  52. Kirk E, Condous G, Haider Z, Syed A, Ojha K, Bourne T (2006).  The conservative management of cervical ectopic pregnancies.  Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 27: 430-437.
  53. Kirk E, Condous G, Haider Z, Lu C, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2006). The practical application of a mathematical model to predict the outcome of pregnancies of unknown location (PULs). Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 27: 311-315.
  54. Kirk E, Condous G, Bourne T (2006). The non-surgical management of ectopic pregnancy.  Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 27: 91-100.
  55. Condous G, Kirk E, Lu C, Van Huffel S, Gevaert O, De Moor B, De Smet F, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2005).  Diagnostic accuracy of varying discriminatory zones for the prediction of ectopic pregnancy in women with a pregnancy of unknown location.  Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 26: 770-775.
  56. Condous G, Kirk E, Syed A, Van Calster B, Van Huffel S, Timmerman D, Bourne T (2005).  Do levels of serum cancer antigen 125 and creatine kinase predict the outcome in pregnancies of unknown location?  Hum Reprod 20: 3348-3354.
  57. Kirk E, Condous G, Bourne T (2004).  Ectopic pregnancy deaths: what should we be doing? Hosp Med 65:657-60.

 

Book:

‘Early Pregnancy Ultrasound – A Practical Guide’ edited by Emma Kirk.  Cambridge University Press.  2017.

 

Book Chapters:

‘Postoperative care and prevention of complications’ in ‘Shaw’s Operative Gynaecology, 7th Ed.’ 2012.  Elsevier.

‘Diagnosis of tubal ectopic pregnancy’ in the first textbook and manual for an Advanced Training Skills Module ‘Acute Gynaecology and Early Pregnancy’.2011. RCOG Press. Editors Davor Jurkovic and Roy Farquharson.

‘Ectopic pregnancy’ in ‘Farquharson and Stephenson: Early Pregnancy Care’.  Cambridge University Press.  2010. 2nd Edition 2017.

‘Pregnancies of Unknown Location’ in ‘Oxford Desktop Reference Book for Obstetrics and Gynaecology’.

‘Imaging in gynaecology’ in ‘Oxford Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology – Second Edition’. 2008 Oxford University Press.

‘Pain/bleeding in early pregnancy’ in ‘Oxford Handbook of Emergencies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology’. 2006 Oxford University Press.

‘The expectant management of ectopic pregnancy’ in ‘Handbook of Early Pregnancy Care’. 2006 Informa UK Ltd.

‘The medical management of ectopic pregnancy’ in ‘Handbook of Early Pregnancy Care’. 2006 Informa UK Ltd.

‘Managing non-tubal ectopic pregnancy: interstitial and cervical pregnancy’ in ‘Handbook of Early Pregnancy Care’. 2006 Informa UK Ltd.

‘Ectopic pregnancy deaths: what should we be doing?’ in ‘Vignettes for the MRCOG’.

 

Other Publications:

‘Recent developments in the non-surgical management of ectopic pregnancy’ by Emma Kirk.  The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust Topic Magazine.   Winter 2007. Issue 8.

‘How not to miss….an ectopic pregnancy’ by Emma Kirk and Roy Farquharson.   GP Pulse Magazine.  July 2008.  

‘What you need to know about pregnancy complications’ by Roy Farquharson, Cecilia Bottomley and Emma Kirk.  GP Pulse Magazine.  April 2009.

 

Published Abstracts:

More than 80 published abstracts.

 

Guidelines:

RCOG GreenTop Guideline No 21.

Elson CJ, Salim R, Potdar N, Chetty M, Ross JA, Kirk EJ on behalf of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. BJOG 2016;.123:e15–e55

FSRH Guideline on Contraception after Pregnancy. 2017