[Laparoscopic management of adnexal tumors after the first trimester of pregnancy].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To study the feasibility, advantages and risks of laparoscopic management of adnexal tumors in the course of the last two trimesters of the pregnancy.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Retrospective study of a series of 25 cases of adnexal tumors operated by laparoscopy in the course of the second and the third trimester of pregnancy, during a period of 49 Months from 1st January 1999 to 30 January 2003.

RESULTS

Mean gestational age at surgery was 16 weeks 3 days (range 12-29 weeks). The adnexal tumor was an ovarian cyst in 24 cases and in a paratubal cyst in a single case. Conversion was necessary in only one case due to difficult hemostasis. One revision required for borderline malignancy cystadenoma was performed laparoscopically during the same pregnancy. No operative complication was noted. Average post-operative stay was 36 hours (range 24-72 hours). There was one situation of eminent abortion in early the postoperative period but no thromboembolic complications. The pregnancy progress was normal after laparoscopy.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic treatment of adnexal tumors is feasible in the course of the last two trimesters of the pregnancy in the hands of an experienced surgeon using advanced techniques. The well-known advantages of laparoscopy are particularly important during the pregnancy.