Hysterectomy for septic abortion--is bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy necessary?

Ovarian conservation at the time of hysterectomy for complicated septic abortion is important in this young population group. In a retrospective study, the histological evaluation of the ovaries of 25 patients were compared with the macroscopic description in the operation reports. In 72.3% of the ovaries examined there was no infection. None of the ovaries described clinically as normal at laparotomy showed histological signs of infection. The clinical assessment of infected ovaries was false-positive in 40% of cases but there was no false-negative decision-making. It is concluded that ovaries which appear normal at hysterectomy for septic abortion should be conserved.