OVARIAN PREGNANCY AND OPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPY - REPORT OF 8 CASES

We report a series of eight cases of ovarian pregnancy treated by oper ative laparoscopy during the last 12 years, This rare ectopic pregnanc y (2.6% of all extra-uterine pregnancies in our experience) is difficu lt to diagnose prior to surgery. Earlier diagnosis is now possible, ow ing to the availability of highly specific radioimmunoassay for human chorionic gonadotrophin and the development of transvaginal ultrasonog raphy. Primary ovarian pregnancy is distinguished by some authors from distal tubal pregnancy, in which a secondary ovarian implantation is possible, The therapy is surgical and currently more conservative than in the past, because of improvement in operative laparoscopy. Laparos copy alloys a short hospital stay, less physical stress and a favourab le cost-benefit ratio, Moreover, its low risk of adhesion formation is important with regard to reproductive prognosis: in the light of this , since the patients are generally young and desire future childbearin g, laparoscopy may be the treatment of choice.