Incidence of recurrent ectopic pregnancy in relation to operative technique

Objective To determine the incidence of recurrent ectopic pregnancies in four groups of patients with different conservative or radical operative techniques via laparoscopy or laparotomy. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Tertiary centre for reproductive medicine Subjects 56 patients who were operated upon and followed up for at least 2 years were included in the study. Interventions The operations performed included linear salpingotomy (n = 21) and salpingectomy (n = 9) via laparoscopy, and linear salpingotomy with tubal reconstruction (n = 9) and salpingectomy with segmental resection (n = 23) at laparotomy. Results Recurrent ectopic pregnancy was found in 19% (4/21) of the laparoscopic salpingotomy group (P < 0.05). No recurrence was seen in the laparoscopic salpingectomy group. Recurrence was found in one case (11%) (p < 0.05) after salpingotomy with tubal reconstruction, and in one case (4.3%) of salpingectomy at laparotomy. Conclusion Conservative surgery for unruptured tubal pregnancy either via laparoscopy or laparotomy carries increased risk for repeated ectopic pregnancy.