Reproductive outcome after laparoscopic salpingectomy for tubal pregnancy

Since 1983, we have performed laparoscopic salpingectomy as a routine procedure for ectopic pregnancy (EP) in cases where conservative management is impossible or contraindicated. The main indications are a ruptured tubal gestation, a pathological tube, a history of tuboplasty, and an ipsilateral recurrence. This technique is simple, quick, and safe. Reproductive outcome after laparoscopic total salpingectomy for EP was evaluated in 125 cases between January 1983 and December 1987. The pregnancy rate was 33.6%. In our population, there was a high proportion of patients with a pathological or absent contralateral tube (74.4%). In patients with a normal contralateral tube (32 cases), the live birth rate (46.9%) was greater but not significantly than in patients (39 cases) with a patent but pathological tube (25.6%). In vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed in 59 patients; clinical pregnancy was obtained in 40.7% of cases. These encouraging results lead us rapidly to consider IVF in patients with a pathological contralateral tube.