Second look laparoscopy after treatment of acute salpingitis with doxycycline/benzylpenicillin procaine or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

Abstract

To have their diagnosis verified, etiology determined and treatment evaluated, 64 patients with a suspected acute salpingitis underwent laparoscopy during which isolates were taken. The patients were then randomized to one of two groups for treatment; doxycycline/benzylpenicillin procaine (DC + BP) or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ). The results were evaluated three to six months later by second look laparoscopy when adhesions and tubal passage were looked for. Isolates from the cervix were culture positive for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in 37 (58%) patients and for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) in 15 (23%). Isolates from the oviducts were positive in 17 (27%) patients of whom 12 had CT and two had NG. Mild salpingitis (Grade I) was found in 16 patients, moderate (Grade II) in 26 and severe (Grade III) in 22 patients. At second look laparoscopy, two patients had totally occluded oviducts, 31 had adhesions but tubal passage on at least one side while 31 patients had healed without any signs of residue. Results at second look laparoscopy showed no statistical difference between the two treatment groups.