Term Uterine Pregnancy After Four Successive Tubal Pregnancies

Abstract

ADVANCES in the early diagnosis of tubal pregnancy are increasingly enabling physicians to resort to conservative surgical treatment in lieu of salpingectomy. Newer techniques in tubal surgery itself may reduce trauma and scarring, making the conservative approach more successful than before. Possible recurrence of an ectopic pregnancy, however, is the risk in any conservative approach. In the following case presentation, we describe a patient who had a term intrauterine pregnancy after four consecutive tubal pregnancies. Three of these pregnancies occurred in one remaining tube that underwent different types of conservative surgery with each occurrence of ectopic pregnancy and ultimately proved to be functional. The risks and opportunities in the current trend to conservative surgery are demonstrated in this case description. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 29-year-old woman consulted us initially in 1979 for infertility. Her menstrual pattern was cyclic and regular, with menses every four weeks. Several months before her