LAPAROSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF TUBAL ECTOPIC PREGNANCIES - THE IRISH EXPERIENCE

Ectopic pregnancies are being dealt with increasingly via the laparosc ope on account of several advantages over conventional surgery, We com menced a Laparoscopic Ectopic service at the National Maternity Hospit al in November 1995, This paper reviews the first 8 months of the serv ice and is the first series of its kind in Ireland, All confirmed Ecto pic pregnancies (EPs) between November 1995 and June 1996 are included in the study, Demographic details, diagnosis, operative details, anal gesic requirements and outcome are reviewed. There were 56 tubal EPs g iving an incidence of 1 per 81 live births, 35 were managed laparoscop ically and were noted to have lower morbidity, analgesic requirement, reduced convalescence, shorter inpatient stay and thus lower cost, We have shown that EPs can be managed sucessfully via minimal access surg ery in an Irish setting, In fact 22 of the last 24 cases of EPs were m anaged via the laparoscope.