[Fertility following function-preserving surgery in tubal pregnancy]

In the last few years an obvious trend toward conservative technique in tubal surgery is observed. Likewise, at our institution, emphasis was placed on preservation of function, too. 59 patients received conservative surgery of tubal pregnancies between 1979 to 1982. 7 women were lost for follow-up. 28 patients showed further desire for child-bearing. 20 of them have had a subsequent intrauterine conception (71.4%), 11 women have had term pregnancies (39.3%). 3 patients were pregnant at time of investigation. The abortion rate was 17.8%. Recurrent ectopic pregnancies were found in 5 cases (9.5%). However, the operated fallopian tube was involved only in 3 cases (5.7%). In 26 cases the patency of the tubal lumen was examined by means of hysterosalpingography. 50% of those women had remained childless. The results of HSG showed a patent passage of the operated tube in 11 cases. Our results show a high rate of subsequent pregnancies and a rather low incidence of repeat ectopic pregnancies in cases of conservative surgery and justify our decision to save the involved tube whenever fertility is desired.