[Pelviscopic treatment of abscess-forming inflammations of the pelvis]

Between 1983 to 1986, in the Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics at the University of Kiel, 50 cases with abscess-forming pelvic inflammation were treated; 28 of these through pelviscopy, whilst laparotomy was necessary in the other 22 cases. The mean age of those patients treated through pelviscopy was significantly lower than that of those subjected to laparotomy. No significant differences were found regarding either the duration of inpatient and postoperative treatment or the duration of antibiotic therapy. In the patients subjected to laparotomy, extirpation of the inflamed organs was carried out i.e. unilateral or bilateral salpingectomy, ovariectomy with eventual hysterectomy in some cases. In the pelviscopic treatment, conservative surgery was considered and ovariectomy or salpingectomy was necessary only in small number of cases. In young women, wanting to complete their families, conservative organ-retaining pelviscopic treatment of abscess-forming pelvic inflammation is a valuable alternative to laparotomy.