title: Postoperative day 3 serum human chorionic gonadotropin decline as a predictor of persistent ectopic pregnancy after linear salpingotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the ability of preoperative clinical, ultrasonographic, intraoperative findings and pre-postoperative serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels to predict persistent ectopic pregnancy (EP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohorts study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care, university hospital. In all, 61 women with EP treated with laparoscopic linear salpingostomy between January 1995 and December 1999.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 61 patients, 10 (9%) were diagnosed with a persistent EP. When compared with 51 (91%) successfully treated patients there were no differences in preoperative clinical and ultrasonographic findings, preoperative serum hCG levels and intraoperative findings. The postoperative decline of hCG levels were different in both groups. No case of persistent EP was found if the postoperative day 3 decline of hCG was more than 55%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative serum hCG follow-up is important after salpingotomy to prevent persistent EP. A decline of less than 55% at day 3 predicts persistent EP and may select early cases for second line methotrexate therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium. willy.poppe@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Poppe
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vandenbussche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin