Effect of method of anesthesia on the reproductive and obstetric outcomes of heterotopic pregnancies.

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia is commonly used for surgical termination of the extrauterine component of heterotopic pregnancy. We sought to evaluate the effects of general and regional anesthesia during salpingectomy on reproductive and obstetric outcomes of heterotopic pregnancies.

METHODS: A two-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted, and 49 heterotopic pregnancies were included. Baseline characteristics, reproductive and obstetric outcomes were compared between the general anesthesia and regional anesthesia groups.

RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable for age, weeks of gestation at diagnosis, and duration of anesthesia. No significant difference was found in pregnancy outcome, perinatal outcome or neonatal weight (P >0.05). The rate of miscarriage in the general anesthesia group was 23.5% versus the regional anesthesia group 15.6% (P >0.05).

CONCLUSION: With respect to reproductive and obstetric outcomes, this retrospective study found no difference between general anesthesia and regional anesthesia used for early heterotopic pregnancy.