Tubal Pregnancy: Relationship of Conservative and Radical Management and Follicular Salpingitis Upon Reproductive Outcome

Abstract

Eight-four patients with tubal pregnancy presenting between January, 1981 and December, 1982 to National Women's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, were identified from medical records and pathology files; 64 had radical surgery, 20 had conservative surgery performed. The 2 groups were analysed for reproductive outcome over a 5-year follow-up period. Subsequent viable pregnancy rates of 53% for the group with radical surgery, and 50% for the group with conservative surgery, are similar to those quoted in the world literature, as is a recurrent tubal pregnancy rate of 14% for the radically treated group. However a recurrent tubal pregnancy rate of 45% for the conservatively treated group in our study is significantly higher than that reported elsewhere. The relationship between recurrent tubal pregnancy and histological evidence of follicular salpingitis was examined. An unexpected finding was that no correlation exists between salpingitis diagnosed at the time of the initial tubal pregnancy, and an increased risk of subsequent tubal pregnancy.