LOCAL INJECTION OF METHOTREXATE DISSOLVED IN SALINE VERSUS METHOTREXATE SUSPENSIONS FOR THE CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF ECTOPIC PREGNANCY

xTo compare the local injection of methotrexate (MTX) dissolved in sal ine and MTX suspensions for the laparoscopic treatment of ectopic preg nancy In terms of success rate and postoperative tubal patency, A tota l of 26 patients with unruptured ectopic pregnancies were selected fro m among 60 women with ectopic pregnancies admitted to the Nagasaki Uni versity clinic, Of these patients, 12 were treated with MTX dissolved in saline solution (solution group) and 14 with MTX suspensions consis ting of lipiodol (LPD) with phosphatidylcholine (PC) added as a disper sing stabilizer (suspension group), Except for one case treated under transvaginal guidance, all the patients were treated by laparoscopy, P ersistent ectopic pregnancy was recognized in seven cases (58%) in the solution group but in only two cases (14%) in the suspension group, M oreover, rupture occurred in two cases in the solution group but in no case in the suspension group, A patent treated tube was found in seve n of 10 cases in the saline group and in 10 of 12 cases in the suspens ion group, During the follow-up period of 6-31 months, five women in t he saline group and three women in the suspension group had an intraut erine pregnancy, In this study, the local injection of MTX is consider ed to be a reasonable method for the treatment of unruptured ectopic p regnancy, and the MTX suspension seems to be more effective and useful than MTX solution.