Laparoscopic surgical treatment of tubal pregnancy. A safe, effective alternative to laparotomy.

This study analyzed the intraoperative morbidity, postoperative course, postoperative hospital stay and fertility outcome in 216 consecutive tubal pregnancies treated with either laparoscopy (n = 98) or laparotomy (n = 118). Among the 98 cases treated with laparoscopy, the procedure was successfully completed in 95 (97%). In three cases laparotomy had to be performed to conclude the procedure. Retained trophoblast was observed in 3.8% of cases treated conservatively with laparoscopy and 1.3% of cases treated conservatively with laparotomy (P greater than .05). The total anesthesia time, amount of postoperative analgesia required and postoperative hospital stay were significantly less in cases treated with laparoscopy (P less than .001). The subsequent fertility outcome was similar in both groups. Laparoscopic treatment of tubal pregnancy is a safe and effective alternative to laparotomy, yielding similar fertility outcomes and requiring significantly less postoperative analgesia and a significantly shorter hospital stay.