SERUM HCG DECLINE FOLLOWING SALPINGOTOMY OR SALPINGECTOMY FOR EXTRAUTERINE PREGNANCY

Twenty-five women with ectopic pregnancy were surgically treated, fift een by conservative salpingotomy and ten by radical salpingectomy. All patients showed a clinically normal postoperative course. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels were determined serially before a nd after the surgical procedure until non-pregnant values (< 5 ml.U./m l) were reached. Serum hCG decline was compared between patients treat ed by salpingotomy versus salpingectomy, using calculated hCG half-lif e times. We observed a significantly slower decline of serum hCG level s during the early phase of hCG disappearance in patients treated by s alpingotomy versus patients treated by salpingectomy.