Risk factors for surgery in patients with tuba-ovarian abscess

Objective To determine the factors that increases the need of surgery in the treatment of tuba-ovarian abscess. Material and method Fifty patients, who were diagnosed with tuba-ovarian abscess between January 2005 and December 2010 at Aegean Obstetrics and Gynecology Education and Research Hospital, were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups as Group A includes 19 patients treated medically and Group B includes 31 patients treated surgically. Patient characteristics of both groups were compared in terms of risk factors, clinical findings, abscess size and length of hospital stay. Results The mean age of the patients was 41.2 ± 10.4 (range 19–73). A statistically significant difference was found between the mean age of the patients (37.4 ± 8.6) treated medically and the mean age of the patients (43.5 ± 10.8) treated surgically ( p 0.042). The patients treated medically were younger than those treated surgically. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of abscess sizes ( p 0.001, 81.7 ± 38.2 and 43.5 ± 19.0 mm, respectively). Accordingly, the size of abscess was larger in the surgical treatment group. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of smoking status and duration of hospital stay ( p 0.157, 0.085, respectively). Previous attacks of PID, history of minor uterine operation and use of IUD’s were not different between the groups ( p 0.166, 0.490, 0.080, respectively). Conclusion Being older in age and having larger abscess size increase proceeding to surgery in patients with tuba-ovarian abscess.