Prospective comparison of videopelviscopy with laparotomy for ectopic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To compare operative laparoscopy with laparotomy for the management of ectopic pregnancy in haemodynamically stable women.

DESIGN

Non-randomized prospective cohort study, treatment allocation depending on the surgical preference and experience of the on-call medical team.

SETTING

Provincial undergraduate teaching hospital.

SUBJECTS

87 consecutive and unselected haemodynamically stable women treated for ectopic pregnancy between 1 March 1988 and 31 August 1989.

INTERVENTIONS

Salpingotomy, salpingectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy or simple extraction of the ectopic pregnancy depending on its site, size and nature performed under laparoscopic control or laparotomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Operative outcome, duration of surgery, intra- and post-operative complications, post-operative hospital stay, return to normal domestic activities, return to work, changes in plasma beta-hCG concentrations, health and social service costs.

RESULTS

60 women were treated by videopelviscopy on 65 occasions and the other 27 were treated by laparotomy. The two groups were similar for age, parity and gestation at presentation. Of the 65 operative laparoscopies 61 (94%) were successful and all 27 laparotomies were completed uneventfully. Whereas the operating time was similar in the two groups, 55.3 and 51.1 min for videopelviscopy and laparotomy respectively, operative laparoscopy was associated with significantly shorter post-operative hospital stay (1.7 vs 5.2 days), faster return to domestic activities (1.5 vs 3.3 weeks) and work (2.5 vs 5.7 weeks) (P less than 0.001 for all). In economic terms, successful videopelviscopy was associated with a reduction in hospital accommodation costs by 69% (248 pounds vs 808 pounds), drug costs by 52% (8.38 pounds vs 17.57 pounds) and statutory sickness payment by 51% (130.25 pounds vs 266.51 pounds), that is an overall saving to the health and social services of 701.47 pounds or 50% per ectopic pregnancy (P less than 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Operative laparoscopy can be used to successfully treat most cases of extrauterine pregnancy with advantages over laparoscopy in terms of reduced hospitalization, faster recovery and lower health service costs.