Ovarian surgery in pregnancy

A series of 57 cases of ovarian disease during pregnancy is presented; 10 of the patients were referred to the Mayo Clinic for treatment. During the 17 year period under investigation (1955 through 1971), there were 25,189 deliveries in Rochester, Minnesota. Thus, the corrected incidence of operable ovarian disease in pregnancy was one case in every 536 deliveries. Simple ovarian cysts were the most common lesions found (38 of 57 cases). The over-all abortion rate was about 25 per cent (14 of 57 patients); six of the patients were threatening to abort prior to surgery. Therefore, the incidence of spontaneous abortion after surgery was 16 per cent (eight of 51 patients). Progestational agents given before and after operation did not affect the abortion rate.