Retrospective analysis of laparoscopic salpingostomy and conservative expectant management of tubal ectopic pregnancy

Purpose  To identify predictive factors for successful expectant management of ectopic pregnancy and to evaluate the prognosis for fertility after expectant management and laparoscopic salpingostomy. Methods  Forty-six cases of expectant management and eighty cases of laparoscopic salpingostomy for tubal ectopic pregnancy were retrospectively analyzed. Subjects were classified in three groups: those who underwent laparoscopic salpingostomy, those treated by expectant management only, and those treated by expectant management but requiring additional treatment. Results  The rates of tubal patency, intrauterine pregnancy and repeated ectopic pregnancy in the laparoscopic salpingostomy group were 75, 40, and 16%. The rates in the expectant management group were not significantly different: 72, 42 and 15%. Finally, the rates in the extra treatment group were 75, 39 and 15%. Success rate of expectant management was 54%. In 93% of cases expectant management was successfully completed when the initial levels of urinal hCG were less than 3000 mIU/ml and the levels of hCG 48 h later were less than 80% of the initial levels. However, expectant management alone was insufficient and required extra treatment in 90% of cases when the initial levels of hCG were 3000 mIU/ml and above or when the levels of hCG level 48 h later was 80% of initial levels and above. Conclusions  Expectant management in combination with salpingostomy is not only minimally invasive but also a useful way to preserve fertility. Initial urine hCG levels and their variation over time can help predict whether expectant management will succeed.     

Conservative management of ectopic pregnancy: prospective randomized clinical trial of methotrexate versus prostaglandin sulprostone by combined transvaginal and systemic administration

In a prospective randomized study, 21 patients with an unruptured tubal pregnancy were treated with local and systemic injection. On the day of diagnosis, methotrexate (MTX) (1 mg/kg) or sulprostone (500 micrograms) were injected into the gestational sac under transvaginal sonographic control. The systemic component consisted of an intramuscular injection of MTX (1 mg/kg) 3, 5, and 7 days after local injection or of sulprostone (500 micrograms) on the 1st 2 postlocal injection days. Methotrexate therapy was successful in 8 of 12 patients and sulprostone therapy in 6 of 9. Laparoscopy was then performed on the 7 unsuccessful patients: 3 of them had pain and hemoperitoneum and 4 of them had rising human choriogonadotropin (hCG) levels. One stomatitis after MTX and one cramping abdominal pain were observed. Thirteen of 14 successfully treated patients had initial hCG levels less than 5,000 mIU/mL. At subsequent hysterosalpinography, 13 of 14 patients had normal tubal configuration and patency. Three of 10 patients who desired another pregnancy had already achieved a normal intrauterine pregnancy. These results suggest that MTX and sulprostone were equally effective, and medical approach for the unruptured ectopic pregnancy may be restricted to patients with hCG less than 5,000 mIU/mL.     

Clinical trial of induction of labor versus expectant management in twin pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The appropriate date of delivery in twin pregnancies is supposed to be earlier than that in singleton pregnancy. The aim of this study was to compare two strategies for managing twin pregnancies (i.e., immediate induction and expectant management). METHODS: Seventeen patients underwent immediately induced labor by administration of oral prostaglandin E(2) at 37 weeks, while 19 patients underwent expectant management. RESULTS: The average gestational age at delivery in the induction group was 37.5 +/- 0.4 weeks, significantly earlier than that in the expectant management group (39.0 +/- 1.1 weeks). However, there were no significant differences in the average birth weight between the two groups (2, 700 +/- 330 g in the induction group vs. 2,672 +/- 392 g in the expectant management group). The cesarean delivery rate in the induction group was 18%, not significantly different from that in the expectant management group (32%). The most common indication for cesarean section in the expectant management group was maternal infection, while there was no maternal infection in the induction group (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: It may be acceptable do intervene in twin pregnancies earlier than in singleton pregnancies during term.     

Unilateral tubal twin ectopic pregnancy treated with single-dose methotrexate

Background  

Spontaneous tubal twin pregnancy is a rare condition with an incidence of 1 in every 125,000 pregnancies. We present the case of a unilateral tubal twin ectopic pregnancy treated with single-dose methotrexate.     

Adhesion formation after laparoscopic surgery in tubal pregnancy: a randomized trial versus laparotomy.

OBJECTIVE: Women with ectopic pregnancy (EP) who have been operated on by laparoscopy are thought to have improved subsequent fertility, probably because of less adhesion formation. We aimed to evaluate the adhesion formation after laparoscopy as compared with laparotomy in a randomized trial. DESIGN: One hundred five patients with tubal pregnancy were stratified with regard to age and risk factors and randomized to surgery by laparoscopy or laparotomy. To evaluate adhesion formation and tubal status, 73 patients with strong desire of pregnancy underwent a second-look laparoscopy. The adhesion status at the ipsilateral and contralateral side at primary surgery was compared with the status at second-look laparoscopy. RESULTS: Patients operated on by laparotomy developed significantly more adhesions at the operated side than patients operated on by laparoscopy (P less than 0.001). Substantially more patients in the laparotomy group underwent adhesiolysis at second-look laparoscopy than did patients in the laparoscopy group. Tubal patency did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic treatment of EP results in less impairment of the pelvic status compared with conventional conservative surgery.     

Laparoscopic salpingectomy in tubal pregnancy: prospective randomized trial using endoloop versus electrocautery

AIM: Ectopic pregnancy is conventionally managed by laparoscopic salpingectomy. Electrocautery has been used widely to secure hemostasis during salpingectomy. However, this method is associated with a risk of thermal injury to the visceral organs. Endoloop, a pre-tied suture used in laparoscopic surgery may be an alternative treatment tool and its potential use in the management of ectopic pregnancy is explored here. Our study aims to compare the effectiveness of the endoloop technique to electrocautery during laparoscopic salpingectomy for tubal pregnancy. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted over 24 months at the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. One hundred and two patients with tubal pregnancy were randomized into two treatment groups: those treated with endoloop and those treated with electrocautery during laparoscopic salpingectomy. RESULTS: The use of an endoloop was associated with a shorter operating time (48.85 min +/- 21.019 vs 61.14 min +/- 22.603, 95% CI -20.864 to -3.724), lower visual analog scores for postoperative pain at day 1 (2.02 +/- 0.960 vs 2.74 +/- 0.828, 95% CI -1.074 to -0.368) and day 7 (0.85 +/- 0.802 vs 1.44 +/- 0.837, 95% CI -0.916 to -0.272), and lesser total analgesia required by patients at day 7 after the operation (7.65 +/- 6.119 vs 15.32 +/- 8.326, 95% CI -10.529 to -4.804). There was no significant difference in the ability to secure hemostasis when both techniques were compared. Duration of hospitalization (2.37 days +/- 0.817 vs 2.34 days +/- 0.519, 95% CI -0.245 to -0.296) and interval from operation to discharge were similar. CONCLUSION: The endoloop appeared to be as effective as electrocautery and is a safe alternative to electrocautery for laparoscopic salpingectomy in tubal pregnancy.     

Laparoscopic surgery in ectopic pregnancy. A randomized trial versus laparotomy.

A randomized, prospective clinical trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of laparoscopic treatment with conventional conservative abdominal surgery for tubal pregnancy. Entry criteria were: size of the ectopic gestation less than 4 cm, hemodynamic stability, accessibility for laparoscopic treatment and a trained laparoscopist on duty. There was no difference between the groups regarding gestational duration, size and location of the ectopic gestation, or the mean preoperative hCG values. The groups differed with respect to total operation time (73 min for the laparoscopy group vs. 88 min for the laparotomy group), hospital stay (2.2 vs. 5.4 days) and convalescence period (11 vs. 24 days). The rates of elimination of hCG was similar in the groups, and there were no statistical difference in the rate of second intervention.     

Laparoscopic management of tubal ectopic pregnancy in obese women

OBJECTIVE: To study the surgical morbidity associated with the laparoscopic management of tubal ectopic pregnancy in an overweight population compared with a lean population. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: An academic tertiary referral obstetrics and gynecology center. PATIENT(S): One hundred seventeen patients in two groups, lean (n = 90; body mass index 30) who had pathology-confirmed tubal ectopic pregnancies that were managed laparoscopically. Each group was subdivided into a laparoscopically managed group and a group in which laparoscopy was converted to laparotomy. INTERVENTION(S): None.Operative time, blood loss, and complications of laparoscopic surgery as well as causes of conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy, in obese compared with lean women, with ectopic pregnancy. RESULT(S): There was no significant difference in gestational age; beta-hCG level; or history of previous surgeries, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, or endometriosis or in any of the studied outcomes (conversion rate, blood loss, and operative time) between the lean and obese groups or their respective subgroups except for operative time between obese women who underwent laparotomy, which was significantly longer when compared with the case of lean women who underwent laparotomy. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were comparable between the lean and obese groups, and all complications occurred in the completed-laparoscopy group. CONCLUSION(S): Laparoscopic management of tubal ectopic pregnancy does not appear to significantly increase surgical morbidity in obese patients.     

Spontaneous bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancy and failed methotrexate therapy: A case report

Spontaneous bilateral ectopic pregnancy is extremely rare. An unsuspected case of spontaneous bilateral ectopic pregnancy with failure of single-dose methotrexate is presented. We question whether the recommended dose of methotrexate for unilateral ectopic pregnancy is adequate for bilateral tubal pregnancy.(Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;177:1545-6.)     

Operative laparoscopy versus laparotomy for the management of ectopic pregnancy: a prospective trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare prospectively operative laparoscopy to laparotomy in the management of hemodynamically stable patients with ectopic pregnancy (EP). DESIGN, PATIENTS, Intervention: Patients with suspected EP presenting to a university-based residency teaching program were prospectively allocated to laparoscopy (n = 26) or laparotomy (n = 37) on alternating months for operative management. RESULTS: Operative times between laparoscopy and laparotomy did not differ significantly. Laparoscopy-treated patients had a significant reduction in estimated intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, narcotic requirement, time to normal activity, and total hospital cost. There was no statistical difference in intrauterine pregnancy rates or in EP rates. CONCLUSIONS: In a university-based residency program, operative laparoscopy is a safe alternative for the management of appropriately selected patients with suspected EP.     

MRI and methotrexate in the management of a cornual ectopic pregnancy

Cornual ectopic pregnancies are rare but can be fatal. Use of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan has been reported in the diagnosis of a cornual ectopic pregnancy, but this is not commonplace. Intramuscular methotrexate is commonly used to treat cornual ectopic pregnancies; however, this is not recommended if the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level is greater than 3,000 IU/l. We describe a case where MRI was used to make a diagnosis and intramuscular methotrexate was successfully administered at an HCG level greater than 3,000 IU/l.     

Reproductive outcome in patients treated by oral methotrexate or laparoscopic salpingotomy for the management of tubal ectopic pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reproductive outcome of women who have received methotrexate or been treated by laparoscopic salpingotomy (LS) for ectopic tubal pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: The study consisted of 123 participants, all women with tubal pregnancies, who had been treated either by methotrexate per os or by laparoscopic salpingotomy. The reproductive outcome of these women was estimated after a follow-up time-period of ten years. RESULTS: In the methotrexate group, consisting of 34 women, the fertility rate was 82% with a mean interval time to conceive of 9.4 months after the treatment. In the group treated by LS, consisting of 89 women, the fertility rate was 82.6% and the mean interval time to conceive was 11.7 months. CONCLUSION: The reproductive outcome of the women who received either per os treatment of methotrexate or LS for tubal pregnancy, remains high. Both therapeutic methods constitute reliable solutions for managing ectopic pregnancy.     

Tubal patency and fertility outcome after expectant management of ectopic pregnancy

Objective: To study tubal patency and fertility outcome of patients with expectantly managed ectopic pregnancy (EP).

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.

Patient(s): Thirty patients who wanted to become pregnant again were treated successfully by expectant management of EP.

Intervention(s): Patients were examined with posttreatment hysterosalpingography, and they filled out a questionnaire about their subsequent pregnancies.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Free passage through open lumen showing tubal patency; number of full-term pregnancies and EPs revealing relative rate of subsequent fertility.

Result(s): A free passage through the diseased tube was seen in 93% of the cases (28 of 30). Two of the 24 patients (8.4%) who wanted to become pregnant had an obstruction in the diseased tube. One (4.2%) of them had a normal opposite tube and later had a normal pregnancy. The other (4.2%) had an obstruction in both tubes and subsequently had a repeat EP. One of the 6 patients had an EP (this patient did not want to become pregnant and did not use contraception). However, her posttreatment hysterosalpingography was normal. In total, the subsequent pregnancy rate was 88% (21 of 24), and the rate of repeat EP was 4.2% (1 of 24).

Conclusion(s): Patients who are treated with expectant management have a good long-term fertility outcome. Spontaneous regression of EP does not lead to increased harm or damage to the tube, i.e., the risk for repeat EP is low.     

Fertility after ectopic pregnancy. Effects of surgery and expectant management

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of different management strategies for ectopic pregnancy on fertility. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of 180 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy between September 1988 and December 1995. The fertility rate after ectopic pregnancy treated with surgery was compared with that after expectant treatment. Statistical analysis took into consideration the following confounding variables: history of sterility, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, use of intrauterine device, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or pelvic surgery prior to ectopic pregnancy, and type of therapy for ectopic pregnancy. RESULTS: Of the 180 women enrolled in the study, 97 desired conception. The intrauterine conception rate was similar in those initially treated expectantly as in those allocated to primary surgery (63% [31/49] vs. 51% [19/37], P = .37). Successful completion of expectant management was associated with rates of subsequent intrauterine pregnancy similar to those of surgical treatment (including primary surgery and surgery after failure of expectant management) (65% [22/34] vs. 54% [28/52], P = .44). Women undergoing delayed surgery due to failure of expectant management had rates of subsequent intrauterine conception similar to those who underwent primary surgery (9/15 vs. 19/37, P = .79). Several anamnestic factors had a significant and adverse effect on reproductive outcome: history of infertility (P = .01), history of ectopic pregnancy (P = .02) and previous pelvic surgery (P = .001). CONCLUSION: Expectant and surgical management of ectopic pregnancy had similar subsequent intrauterine conception rates, even when failure of expectant management led to secondary surgery. Gynecologic history can identify the subgroup of patients at higher risk of a poor reproductive outcome.     

Magnesium supplementation during pregnancy: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Four hundred young normotensive primigravid women between 13 and 24 weeks' gestation were randomly allocated to one of two study groups. One group received placebo tablets and the other group received 365 mg of elemental magnesium daily (as magnesium aspartate hydrochloride). Three hundred seventy-four patients completed the study, 189 in the placebo group and 185 in the treatment group. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding serum calcium, uric acid, or electrolyte levels. However, the magnesium-supplemented group had significantly higher magnesium levels at delivery (1.68 +/- 0.03 mg/dl vs. 1.56 +/- 0.03 mg/dl, p less than 0.01). There were no significant differences in either systolic or diastolic blood pressures between both groups either at time of enrollment or at subsequent gestational ages later during pregnancy. Analysis of variance for repeated measurements and Fisher's least significant difference testing indicated a significant increase (p less than 0.01) in blood pressure from the level at the time of enrollment to the level achieved at or beyond 37 weeks' gestation in each group. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding any of the following parameters: incidences of preeclampsia, fetal growth retardation, preterm labor, birth weight, gestational age at delivery, or number of infants admitted to the special care unit. Magnesium supplementation during pregnancy did not improve pregnancy outcome in our population.     

Comparison of elective induction of labor with favorable Bishop scores versus expectant management: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if elective induction (IND) increases the risk of cesarean delivery compared to expectant management (EM). METHODS: A randomized clinical trial involving women 39 weeks' gestation, according to strict dating criteria, with a Bishop score of 5 or more in nulliparous patients and 4 or more in multiparous patients. The control group was expectantly managed and delivered for obstetric indications, but not later than 42 weeks' gestation. The study had 80% power to detect a three-fold increase in cesarean delivery. RESULTS: One-hundred-and-sixteen patients (45 nulliparous) were randomized to IND and 110 (58 nulliparous) to EM. Demographic characteristics were no different between the groups. The cesarean delivery rate in the IND group was 6.9% (8/116) compared to 7.3% (8/110) in the EM group (p = NS). Rates of cesarean delivery for nulliparous patients randomized to IND compared to EM were also not significantly different: 13.3% (6/45) versus 10.3% (6/58) respectively (p = NS). Neonates delivered of IND patients weighed less than those of the EM group (3459 +/- 347 versus 3604 +/- 438, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: In women with favorable Bishop scores, elective induction of labor resulted in no increase in cesarean delivery compared to expectant management.     

A randomized trial of induction at 42 weeks gestation versus expectant management for postdates pregnancies

A randomized prospective clinical trial of induction of labor at 42 completed weeks gestation versus expectant management in postdates pregnancies was performed. The primary screening test was the 24-hr urinary estriol creatinine ratio. The cesarean section rate was high in both groups and did not differ statistically. Intervention by delivery at 42 weeks decreased the development of small for gestational age infants, but costs slightly more. Twenty-four-hour urinary estriol creatinine ratio determinations predicted fetal distress in labor, but could not predict postmaturity syndrome or infants who were small for gestational age. As expectant management did not differ from induction of labor at 42 weeks from the standpoint of maternal outcome, and as the cost difference was small, induction of labor at 42 weeks may be the preferred management as it improves infant outcome.     

Gestational choriocarcinoma in a tubal ectopic pregnancy.

A case is reported of a gestational choriocarcinoma arising in a tubal ectopic pregnancy of 7 weeks' gestation. Unilateral salpingectomy and single-agent actinomycin-D chemotherapy achieved a cure. A follow-up 4 years later revealed no evidence of recurrence, with two normal births within that period. The current trend to treat ectopic pregnancy by conservative surgery necessitates monitoring of beta-HCG titres in order to avoid missing a choriocarcinoma developing in an ectopic gestation, even though this is a very rare condition.