Epidemiología, resultados clínicos y costos del tratamiento del absceso tuboovárico, en un hospital público de Santiago / Epidemiology, clinical results and costs of treatment of the tuvoovarian abscess, in a public hospital in Santiago

Objetivos: Conocer frecuencia y factores de riesgo del absceso tuboovárico (ATO), complicaciones y costos del tratamiento. Método: Estudio retrospectivo de 64 pacientes operadas con el diagnóstico de ATO. Las pacientes se manejaron con criterio médico-quirúrgico: uso de antibióticos y cirugía en casos de peritonitis difusa, fiebre persistente con masa palpable y masa anexial mayor de 6 cm sin fiebre. Se evaluaron en fertilidad futura y en complicaciones: infección y dehiscencia de herida operatoria, reoperación por ATO residual, lesión intestinal, lesión vesical y complicaciones médicas. Resultados: El ATO representó el 73,6 por ciento de los casos hospitalizados por enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica, con frecuencia de 1,5 casos por mes y 17,2 por ciento de actinomicosis. La edad media de las pacientes fue 40,5 años. El dispositivo intrauterino (DIU) se asoció con ATO en 84,4 por ciento de los casos, 94,4 por ciento sin control y con media de uso de 10,2 años. El ATO unilateral fue el más frecuente (57,8 por ciento) y la anexectomía unilateral la operación más común. El 17,2 por ciento de las pacientes presentaron complicaciones y el 85,9 por ciento quedaron con infertilidad. El costo total de los 64 casos fue $86.331.713 (UF 3.788), con una media de $1.348.933 (UF 59,2). Conclusión: Existe un aumento de la frecuencia del ATO y de la actinomicosis pélvica, con incremento consiguiente de la infertilidad y de los costos, asociados al uso de DIU, sin control y por tiempo prolongado.

Objective: To determine frequency and risk factors of tuboovarian abscess (TOA) and observe complications, fertility damages and surgical costs of medical-surgical treatment. Method: Retrospective study in 64 patients operated with TOA diagnosis. Patients were managed with medical-surgical treatment: use of antibiotics and then surgery in cases of peritonitis diffuse, persistent fever with palpable mass and adnexial mass greater than 6 cm without fever. They were evaluated in future fertility and complications: infection and of surgical wound dehiscence, reoperation by residual TOA, intestinal injury, bladder injury and medical complications. Results: The TOA accounted for 73.6 percent of hospitalized cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), 1.5 cases per month and 17.2 percent of actinomycosis. The mean age of patients was 40.5 years. The intrauterine device (IUD) was associated with TOA in 84.4 percent of cases, 94.4 percent uncontrolled and with a 10.2 years mean use. The unilateral TOA was the most frequent (57.8 percent) and the unilateral anexectomy the most common operation. The 17.2 percent of patients presented complications and 85.9 percent remained infertile. These results showed an increase compared with those obtained in the series published in 1993. The total cost of the 64 cases was $86.331.713 (UF 3.788), with a mean of $1.348.933 (UF 59.2). Conclusion: There is an increased frequency of the TOA and of pelvic actinomycosis, with consequent increase of infertility and costs associated with the uncontrolled and long-term use of IUD.

Cost--effectiveness analysis of salpingectomy prior to IVF, based on a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In patients with ultrasound-visible hydrosalpinges, salpingectomy prior to IVF increases the chance of a live birth. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of this strategy (intervention) with that of optional salpingectomy after a failed cycle (control). METHODS: Data from a Scandinavian randomized controlled trial were used to calculate the individual number of treatments and their outcomes. Only patients with ultrasound-visible hydrosalpinges were considered in the main analysis, and a maximum of three fresh cycles were included. The costs for surgical procedures, IVF treatment, medication, complications, management of pregnancy and delivery as well as of early pregnancy losses were calculated from standardized hospital charges. RESULTS: Among the 51 patients in the intervention group, the live birth rate was 60.8% compared with 40.9% in 44 controls. The average cost per patient was 13,943 euro and 12,091 euro, respectively. Thus, the average cost per live birth was 22,823 euro in the intervention group and 29,517 euro in the control group. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for adopting the intervention strategy was estimated at 9306 euro. CONCLUSIONS: The incremental cost to achieve the higher birth rate of the intervention strategy seems reasonable.

Economic evaluation of infertility treatment for tubal disease.

PURPOSE: The number of published studies comparing cost-effectiveness of tubal surgery and IVF treatment is limited, in part because of the difficulties of conducting randomized trials, given that IVF is now a clinically accepted treatment and the decision to offer surgery or IVF is often dictated by the severity of the tubal disease and by the availability of the methods. The aim of this study was to compare the costs of our policy of offering tubal surgery to patients with mild or moderate tubal disease with the cost of offering IVF to these and severe tubal disease. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study patients with tubal pathology as the sole reason for their infertility were included: 61 patients in the tubal surgery group and 464 patients in the IVF group. The delivery rates and costs per delivery were compared. RESULTS: Delivery rates were 28% in the tubal surgery group within 2 years of follow-up and 52% in the IVF group that involved up to three cycles of treatment. This economic evaluation demonstrated only small differences in the average cost when considering the cost per delivery. CONCLUSIONS: With a policy involving strict selection of patients, tubal surgery will continue to have a role in the treatment of infertility.

Recanalization of obstructed fallopian tube by selective salpingography and transvaginal bougie dilatation: outcome and cost analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effectiveness and cost of transcervical salpingography and recanalization in the management of infertility caused by tubal occlusion. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients investigated with transcervical selective salpingography and, in some instances, treated by transcervical recanalization. SETTING: Four hundred patients with hysterosalpingography diagnosis of obstructed fallopian tubes (clinical environment) are investigated. A repeat hysterosalpingogram after administration of a prostaglandin antagonist demonstrated patency of the tubes in 82 patients and selective transcervical salpingography demonstrated patency in an additional 131 patients. INTERVENTION: Transcervical tubal recanalization. Of the remaining 187 patients, recanalization by transcervical technique was successful in 145 patients. The underlying etiology for tubal obstruction was salpingitis isthmica nodosa in 62, salpingitis and perisalpingitis in 71, endometriosis in 8, failed surgical anastomosis in 43, and undeterminate cause in 3 patients. Pregnancy was attained in 24 patients, there were 10 minor and 1 major complication. OUTCOME MEASURE: Attained and maintained patency of tubes, pregnancy, attendant complications. CONCLUSION: A pregnancy rate of 12.8% was attained after transcervical recanalization of obstructed tubes. An attendant increased rate of pregnancy in patients proven patent after selective salpingography, valuable detailed information about proximal and distal tubes after recanalization of the obstructed proximal tube segment, the low rate of complications, and low cost are factors recommending the use of this technique. Moreover, tubal surgery or IVF treatment are not influenced adversely by prior transcervical tubal recanalization and remain an option for patients who failed to attain pregnancy.