Single-Port Laparoscopic Salpingectomy for the Surgical Treatment of Ectopic Pregnancy

Study Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a single-port laparoscopic salpingectomy in the surgical treatment of tubal pregnancy. Design: Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting: University teaching hospital Patients: Twenty women with tubal pregnancy, as determined by ultrasonography. Intervention: All patients have undergone single-port laparoscopic salpingectomy. Entry through a single port was established with a wound retractor as fascial retractor and a surgical glove, which served as the working channels for the laparoscopic equipment. A 30-degree laparoscope and a rigid or flexible grasper were used during the procedure. Measurements and Main Results: Single-port laparoscopic salpingectomy was successfully performed in all 20 patients with ectopic pregnancy. The median operative time was 55 minutes (range 25-85 minutes), and blood loss in all patients was minimal. The median difference between preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin was 1.8 g/dL (range 0-3.2 g/dL). The median postoperative hospital stay was 2 days (range 2-4 days). No complication was encountered, nor was there any need for conversion to conventional laparoscopy. Conclusions: Single-port laparoscopic salpingectomy is feasible and promising. However, for drawing the definite conclusion of the surgical efficacy, additional investigations to compare this approach with conventional laparoscopy are needed. Journal of Minimally Tnvasive Gynecology (2010) 17, 26-29 (C) 2010 AAGL. All rights reserved.