A Comparison of Laparoscopy and Laparotomy for the Treatment of Ectopic Pregnancy

Objective: To compare the clinical results between laparoscopy and laparotomy for the treatment of ectopic pregnancy. Methods: We studied retrospectively 254 patients who had admitted to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul Sung Ae Hospital and had been treated for ectopic pregnancy from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2003. Results: A total of 254 patients were randomized to either laparoscopy (n=179) or laparotomy (n=75). There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics and laboratory findings between the two groups. In the both groups, the most common site was the ampullar portion (84.9% vs 73.4%) and the most common operative procedure was the salpingectomy (91.1% vs 88.0%). The mean operation time was not significantly different between the laparoscopy group (50.910.3 minutes) and the laparotomy group (52.812.1 minutes). But the length of the hospital stay was significantly shorter after laparoscopy (3.10.4 days) than after laparotomy (6.20.7 days). There were no intraoperative complications in the both groups. Conclusion: In the treatment of ectopic pregnancy, laparoscopic surgery is as effective and safe as the treatment with laparotomy and has the advantage of decrease in hospital stay and cost and of rapid return to normal activity and of cosmetic effect.