Trophoblastic peritoneal implants after laparoscopic treatment of ectopic pregnancy

Persistent trophoblastic activity after salpingostomy for ectopic pregnancy implies the presence of intra-abdominal trophoblastic tissue. usually within the Fallopian tube. We report a case of disseminated trophoblastic peritoneal implants, presenting as hemoperitoneum three weeks after laparoscopic salpingectomy. Only 23 such cases have been reported. Surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy, especially by the laparoscopic technique, may cause intraperitoneal spread and reimplantation of trophoblastic tissue. Precautions for minimizing this complication are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.