Use of corticosteroids as an adjuvant in terminal salpingostomy

Between the years 1977 and 1980, 26 women underwent terminal salpingostomy with a standard operative procedure at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The term pregnancy rate was 23%, and the ectopic pregnancy rate was 13%. Fourteen patients received dexamethasone perioperatively; and of these, 3 had term pregnancies (21%). Of the 12 patients not receiving dexamethasone, there were also three term pregnancies (25%). It is concluded from this small series that perioperative corticosteroids do not improve the term pregnancy rate for terminal salpingostomy.