Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD reviewing Hanley GE et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017 Mar.

Time will tell to what degree bilateral salpingectomy reduces risk for ovarian cancer.

Because the distal fallopian tubes are a source of ovarian cancer, professional organizations have recommended that surgeons consider performing bilateral salpingectomy (BS) at the time of hysterectomy with ovarian conservation (and also utilizing BS instead of tubal ligation for sterilization). Investigators queried a U.S. database of hospital admissions from 2008 through 2013 to assess how commonly BS was performed at hysterectomy for benign disease and to evaluate the safety of the procedure. The investigators also examined tubal sterilization, but too few admissions were included in the database to make meaningful observations.

During the study period, the annual number of inpatient hysterectomies fell by 49% (from 438,199 to 225,005). In 2013, BS was performed in 7.7% of women undergoing hysterectomy (17,350), representing a 371% increase from 2008. In an analysis that controlled for patient age, hysterectomy indication, surgical approach, and comorbidities, the likelihood of postoperative blood transfusion and infection was similar for hysterectomy alone or with BS.

CITATION(S):

Hanley GE et al. The performance and safety of bilateral salpingectomy for ovarian cancer prevention in the United States. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017 Mar; 216:270.e1. 

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