Outcome of tubal surgeries at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the outcome of tubal surgeries at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. Enugu, Nigeria over a 15 year period (1990 - 2004).

METHOD: A retrospective case series review.

RESULTS

Sixty-four women underwent tubal surgery in the hospital within the 15 year period. Hydrosalpinx was the most frequent tubal pathology occurring in 35 (54.7%) of the women followed by peritubal adhesions in 13 (20.3%) women and cornual block in 11 (17.2%) women. The surgical access was through laparotomy in 59 (92.2%) women and laparoscopy in 5 (7.8%) women. Fifty-seven (89.1%) of the cases had macrotubal surgery while 7 (10.9%) women had microtubal surgery. Twenty-four (37.5%) women had cuff salpingostomy, 16 (25%) had peritubal adhesiolysis, 12 (18.8%) had linear salpingostomy while 10 (15.6%) had tubo-cornual anastomosis. The most frequently used suture for tuboplasty was chromicised catgut No 2/0 which was used in 46 (71.9%) of the women. Twenty-five (39.1%) women were followed up for more than 6 months while the rest were lost to follow-up after 6 months. Three of the 25 women followed-up for more than 6 months became pregnant giving a pregnancy rate of 12.0% for this sub-group and an overall pregnancy rate of 3/64 or 4.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Tubal surgery as seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu has a low pregnancy rate similar to ones reported from other Nigerian centres. If attention is paid to the currently recommended microsurgical techniques, the pregnancy rates following tubal surgery are likely to be better than has been documented in this study.