Laparoscopic management of ectopic pregnancy.

In response to the dramatic increase in the incidence of ectopic pregnancy in the United States and worldwide, diagnostic and surgical procedures have evolved to provide safe, efficacious and cost-effective resolutions of this condition. Laparoscopic management of ectopic pregnancy, developed in this regard, continues to be the subject of equivocal reviews. In an effort to further elucidate the issues surrounding the laparoscopic management of ectopic pregnancy, a retrospective investigation was undertaken of 82 women admitted to a community hospital in the Northwest for operative resolution of ectopic pregnancy. Of these patients, 81 (99%) were treated successfully by the laparoscopic approach, the majority (90%) by salpingostomy, with no occurrence of postoperative complications. In contrast to the 3-14% incidence of persistent ectopic pregnancy found in other studies of this approach, a 1% rate was noted here. A sampling of patients treated by laparoscopic and non-laparoscopic approaches demonstrated a 13% reduction in hospital charges for those treated by laparoscopy. In addition, laparoscopy involved a shorter hospital stay and fewer of the unpleasant effects associated with abdominal surgery. The results of this study further support laparoscopic management as an efficacious, safe and cost-effective approach for the resolution of ectopic pregnancy.