Surgical Management

What are the two main types of surgery?

Historically, surgery involved laparotomy (an open cut) on the lower abdomen, just above the bikini line. This type of surgery is still occasionally needed if there is heavy internal bleeding/rupture or a lot of scar tissue and is performed in an emergency situation.

In most circumstances, the type of operation is through a technique called laparoscopy (keyhole surgery). This involves inserting a camera through the navel (belly button) and inserting instruments through two small cuts in the lower abdomen (tummy). A small amount of gas is put into your abdominal cavity to inflate it to enable the surgeon to see inside the abdomen.

Both techniques will enable the surgeon to examine the abdominal cavity but keyhole surgery means a quicker recovery. If there is extensive bleeding, a blood transfusion may be needed.

What will happen during and after the surgery?

There are then two courses of action for the surgeon and the one chosen will depend upon the damage to the affected Fallopian tube and the condition of the other Fallopian tube. If the unaffected Fallopian tube is as expected, the most likely operation is that the Fallopian tube with the ectopic pregnancy is removed (salpingectomy). If the other Fallopian tube is not as expected then the most likely operation is to remove the ectopic pregnancy from the Fallopian tube by making a small cut, leaving the tube in place (salpingotomy).
Unfortunately, however, it is not always possible to do a salpingotomy when there are concerns about the other Fallopian tube. With a salpingotomy, there is a small risk that some of the pregnancy tissue remains in the Fallopian tube and you will be advised to have weekly blood tests to monitor hCG levels as they decrease and the pregnancy is fully resolved. In a very small number of cases, treatment with a drug called methotrexate may also be required, or a further operation needed if hCG levels are not decreasing.

Your medical team will discuss what happens to the pregnancy that has been removed. The pregnancy tissue is usually sent to a laboratory for investigations called a histopathology which includes checking for a rare type of pregnancy called a molar pregnancy. Once the laboratory has done this, the remains will be sensitively disposed of, according to your wishes and options available at your hospital.

You are likely to stay in hospital for one or occasionally two days after surgery by laparoscopy (keyhole) or for two to three days after a laparotomy (cut to lower tummy). If your blood group is Rhesus negative then you will be given an injection of anti D to prevent future babies becoming anaemic during pregnancy. When you are discharged, the ward staff will give you advice on aftercare, exercise and diet. Stitches are usually dissolvable and should dissolve completely after a week. Sometimes they dissolve slower and if they are irritating you, they can be removed after a week. You are entitled to ask for a copy of your operation notes for your own records. These can also be very useful to keep in case you move or go to a different hospital at any time in the future so you can share them with your medical team.

How will I feel after the surgery?

Most people experience pain during the first 1-2 weeks after surgery which can be treated with painkillers. If you have had a laparoscopy, you are likely to feel bloated for the first week with pain similar to trapped wind. This is due to the gas which is used during the surgery. You will feel tired, particularly if you lost a lot of blood during the procedure. If you had to have a blood transfusion, you may also be offered iron tablets which will turn you stools (poo) black coloured and may make you a little constipated (find it hard to poo). Our website has further information on physical recovery after an ectopic pregnancy.

What can I do to help me recover from the surgery?

In the first days after surgery, it is important to try to keep moving gently. Make sure you walk around regularly and increase the short distances you walk as each day passes.

Your nurses will tell you anything you need to know about managing your wound sites, for example, if the stitches are dissolvable or if you need to return to have them removed and when.

Keep your wound site clean. You can shower regularly and you can safely take a bath 48 hours after the operation unless you have been told otherwise. It is a good idea to make sure you have someone with you in the house when you first take a bath in case you need help to get out again.

You should not do any heavy lifting or vigorous housework for around two weeks and should only undertake gentle exercise such as walking, and possibly gentle swimming, once the wound sites on the skin have healed.

The staff at the hospital should also advise you about pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises, as these can greatly help you to recover your normal tummy and bladder tone in the weeks to come.

In the first few days, it is important to take the painkillers that have been prescribed for you, as they will help you to manage your pain and feel more comfortable after an operation.

Most people take time off from work initially and do not return to work for at least two weeks to give their body and emotions time to heal after keyhole surgery and this timeframe increases to approximately six weeks for major abdominal surgery. Our website has information about ectopic pregnancy and the workplace.

How will my doctors keep me monitored?

If you had a salpingotomy (Fallopian tube left in place), or if there was any doubt that all of the pregnancy tissue was removed, your doctors will usually test your hCG levels to ensure that they are dropping. In this instance, it may be necessary to check your blood hCG levels again after a week, and possibly beyond.

If you had a salpingectomy (Fallopian tube removed), no follow-up is usually needed although sometimes no placental tissue is seen when the Fallopian tube is checked under the microscope, in which case you will need to have a blood test for hCG levels if your pregnancy test is still positive. This is to make sure that the ectopic pregnancy has totally been removed and resolved.

Some hospitals ask you to return for an outpatient appointment about six weeks after surgery to ensure that your abdomen has healed properly and to answer any questions you may have. If you are not offered a follow-up appointment, your doctor/GP would probably like to see you at around six weeks, or before you return to work, to undertake a post-operative check to make sure that you are healing well.