Salpingitis

Abstract

Salpingitis is the inflammation of the fallopian tubes usually due to gonorrheal or chlamydial infections, but other gram-negative and anaerobic bacterial pathogens have been also implicated. Patients can present with lower abdominal pain, fever, and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Ultrasonography and diagnostic laparoscopy can help confirm the diagnosis of salpingitis and exclude other differential diagnoses or associated complications such as hydrosalpinx, adhesions, and tubo-ovarian abscesses. Antimicrobial management is the mainstay of treatment and surgical management should be reserved to patients with non-responsive tubo-ovarian abscesses or ruptured abscesses.