OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the fertility outcome after laparoscopic surgery for ectopic pregnancy. DESIGN: A randomized trial versus laparotomy was performed between May 1987 and June 1989. SETTING: The study was conducted in a clinical university center, the Sahlgrens Hospital. PATIENTS: A group of 105 patients with tubal pregnancy were stratified with regard to risk determinants and age and randomized to laparoscopy or laparotomy. Eighty-seven patients who desired pregnancy were evaluated for subsequent fertility outcome. INTERVENTIONS: Linear salpingotomy was performed in both surgical groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We evaluated the fertility outcome after laparoscopic salpingotomy for comparison with the outcome after laparotomy. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in the overall fertility outcome. A substantially higher proportion of patients in the laparotomy group were subjected to adhesiolysis performed at a second-look laparoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: The fertility prospects are not impaired by laparoscopic surgery. Adhesiolysis at a second-look laparoscopy, especially after laparotomy, might be beneficial in selected cases and may serve to improve subsequent fertility.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the fertility outcome after laparoscopic surgery for ectopic pregnancy. DESIGN: A randomized trial versus laparotomy was performed between May 1987 and June 1989. SETTING: The study was conducted in a clinical university center, the Sahlgrens Hospital. PATIENTS: A group of 105 patients with tubal pregnancy were stratified with regard to risk determinants and age and randomized to laparoscopy or laparotomy. Eighty-seven patients who desired pregnancy were evaluated for subsequent fertility outcome. INTERVENTIONS: Linear salpingotomy was performed in both surgical groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We evaluated the fertility outcome after laparoscopic salpingotomy for comparison with the outcome after laparotomy. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in the overall fertility outcome. A substantially higher proportion of patients in the laparotomy group were subjected to adhesiolysis performed at a second-look laparoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: The fertility prospects are not impaired by laparoscopic surgery. Adhesiolysis at a second-look laparoscopy, especially after laparotomy, might be beneficial in selected cases and may serve to improve subsequent fertility.
Authors: S Sauerland; F Agresta; R Bergamaschi; G Borzellino; A Budzynski; G Champault; A Fingerhut; A Isla; M Johansson; P Lundorff; B Navez; S Saad; E A M Neugebauer Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2005-10-24 Impact factor: 3.453