Advantages of open laparoscopic surgery over exploratory laparotomy in patients with tubo-ovarian abscess.
OBJECTIVE
To compare laparoscopic surgery and conventional laparotomy in managing patients with tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA).


METHODS
Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).


METHODS
Regional hospital.


METHODS
Sixty-nine women with clinically suspicious TOA.


METHODS
Operative laparoscopy or laparotomy.


RESULTS
Laparoscopic surgery in 19 women had significant advantages over laparotomy in 37 women. It decreased hospital stay (5.37 +/-1.38 days vs 8.92 +/- 2.59 days, p = 0.0001), had a lower percentage of wound infections, and had a shorter time for fever to subside (25.79 +/- 11.45 vs 39.46 +/- 17.47 hrs, p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Although management of TOA consists of conservative medical treatment with antibiotics, it is now widely accepted that surgical intervention should be pursued early after the diagnosis. Open laparoscopy seems to be a good alternative to traditional laparotomy in managing these patients.
Yang
Chih-Chun
CC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
Chen
Pu
P
Tseng
Jen-Yu
JY
Wang
Peng-Hui
PH
D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies