ABSTRACT

Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) is mostly a consequence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). TOA is characterized by an inflammatory mass involving the fallopian tube, ovary and occasionally other adjacent pelvic organs. TOA is a serious life-threatening condition that must be diagnosed and managed immediately. Complete history and pelvic examination includes the most important part of the diagnosis. Surgery is necessary for both definitive diagnosis and treatment of TOA especially for suspicious abscess rupture or finding of a TOA in a postmenopausal woman. Our objective was to compare characteristics of patients who undergo surgical treatment and medical treatment.

We examined 92 patients with TOA that had been hospitalized and treated medically or surgically. 53 patients had undergone operation and 39 patients had taken only antibiotherapy. Patients who underwent surgical treatment were called as Group 1 and took only medical treatment are called as Group 2.

When patients treated surgically are divided into 2 groups which were operated as salpengectomy/salpingooopherectomy and drainage, difference in mean values between these two groups were not observed except WBC count. When we compared mean values of patients between Group 1 and 2, parity, antibiotherapy duration and hospitalization period were found different.

It’s very important to decide that which patient should be hospitalized and treated with combination of surgical methods and antibiotherapy or which patient should take with only antibiotherapy. Correct decision will be helpful for patient reducing morbidity, adhesions, need for radical surgery and harmful to ovaries.