Salpingectomy and BSO: an OR 101 guide
Reviewed by Rodnie Oro, cath lab charge nurse · Last reviewed: October 2026 · Education only, not medical advice
Salpingectomy and BSO in one minute
What it is: keyhole surgery to remove a fallopian tube (salpingectomy) or both tubes and ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, BSO).
Who it is for: people with an ectopic pregnancy, tube disease, ovarian cysts or masses, or a high inherited cancer risk; also for contraception.
Main risks: bleeding, infection, injury to bowel, bladder or ureter (rare), early menopause after BSO.
Usually: under general anaesthetic, 30–90 minutes, often home the same day.
On this page: What are salpingectomy and BSO? · Who is it for? · When is it done? · Step by step · Recovery · Risks · Kit list · First time in theatre? · FAQ
What are salpingectomy and BSO?
The fallopian tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the womb.
- Salpingectomy: removal of one or both tubes, for example for an ectopic pregnancy in the tube, a damaged tube, or as permanent contraception
- Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO): removal of both tubes and ovaries, for example for ovarian masses or to reduce cancer risk in people with an inherited gene change
Removing both ovaries before menopause causes immediate menopause; hormone treatment may be discussed. Most operations are laparoscopic.
New to the acronyms? See the Cath Lab Abbreviations A–Z.
Who is it for?
It may be considered for people with:
- an ectopic pregnancy in the tube (often urgent)
- damaged or blocked tubes (for example before IVF)
- ovarian cysts or masses
- reducing risk with an inherited gene change
- permanent contraception (salpingectomy)
The decision is made by your surgical team, who will talk through the reasons, the alternatives and the risks with you.
When is it done?
Most operations are planned; some are urgent. Before it, you usually have:
- an examination, and usually an ultrasound scan
- blood tests, including blood count and group and save
- a pregnancy test where relevant
- a review of your medicines, especially blood thinners, as per centre protocol
- a chance to ask questions and give consent
Step by step
1. Getting ready
Team brief and WHO checklist first. The anaesthetic team and ODP give a general anaesthetic and insert a breathing tube; antibiotics and blood-clot prevention are given as per centre protocol. The circulating practitioner checks positioning, pressure areas, the diathermy plate, warming, and that the camera stack and gas insufflator work. The scrub practitioner sets up the laparoscopic trolley and an open set in case of conversion, and does the first count. The patient is placed in lithotomy or supine with legs apart, per surgeon; a urinary catheter or emptied bladder, as per centre protocol.
2. Access
Usually laparoscopic: a port at the belly button and two lower ports. Open surgery is occasionally needed.
3. Removing the tube or ovaries
- A. Inspection. The pelvis is inspected with the camera.
- B. Tube sealed. The tube (and, for BSO, the ovarian blood vessels) is sealed and divided, with the ureter kept safe.
- C. Removed in a bag. The tissue is placed in a bag and removed through a port.
- D. Checked. Bleeding is checked and the pelvis washed if needed.
4. Finishing
The gas is let out, ports removed and the larger cuts closed (deep layer, per surgeon), then the skin with sutures or glue. Local anaesthetic is often injected into the wounds. Final counts are confirmed, specimens labelled and checked, and the patient goes to recovery with a full handover.
Recovery and aftercare
- First hours: in recovery, then a ward or day unit; pain relief and anti-sickness medicine.
- Going home: often the same day.
- Activity: walking early; avoid heavy lifting for about 2 weeks; ask your team.
- Bleeding: some vaginal bleeding or discharge is common for a short time.
- Sex and driving: ask your team when it is safe.
- Follow-up: results and review, as per centre protocol.
Call 999 if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, breathlessness, chest pain or collapse. Contact your team or GP if you have a fever, smelly discharge, pain or swelling in a leg, or a wound that becomes red, hot or leaky.
Risks and complications
Your team will explain the risks that apply to you. Possible problems include:
- bleeding
- infection
- injury to the bowel, bladder, ureter or blood vessels (rare)
- early menopause after removing both ovaries before menopause
- blood clots in the legs or lungs
- conversion to open surgery
Theatre kit list (printable)
Example kit list
Every theatre has its own protocol, and sizes and doses vary.
- laparoscopic stack: camera, scope, light source, gas insufflator and warmer
- ports, sizes per device and operator, and an entry needle or open-entry kit, per surgeon
- laparoscopic graspers, scissors, dissectors and suction-irrigation
- energy device, per surgeon
- specimen retrieval bag
- uterine manipulator, per surgeon
- lithotomy supports and padding
- suction-irrigation
- closure sutures and dressings
Procedural steps
- Team brief, WHO sign in; anaesthesia; antibiotics as per centre protocol
- Positioning; catheter or empty bladder; prep and drape; count
- Ports; inspection
- Tube and vessels sealed and divided
- Specimen bagged and removed
- Haemostasis; closure; counts; specimen check; sign out and handover
First time in theatre?
đź’ˇ First-time tip
- Know your role. Scrub, circulating, anaesthetic and ODP each have their own checks; ask at the team brief.
- Counts matter. Swabs, needles and instruments are counted before, during and at closure; speak up if one is missing.
- Specimens. Label every specimen with site and side, and check it with the scrub practitioner before it leaves theatre.
- Ectopic urgency. A ruptured ectopic can bleed quickly; know where blood products and suction are.
- Lithotomy safety. Raise and lower both legs together and check padding.
FAQ
Can I still get pregnant after one tube is removed?
Often yes, if the other tube works.
Will removing both ovaries start menopause?
Yes, if you have not reached menopause.
Is it keyhole?
Usually.
Related guides
Sources
All checked on 14 October 2026. Each page's own date is shown where it gives one.
- NHS. Ectopic pregnancy. nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy
- NICE. Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage (NG126). nice.org.uk/guidance/ng126
- StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), search: salpingectomy. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
- StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), search: salpingo-oophorectomy. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
- World Health Organization. Surgical Safety Checklist. who.int
Disclaimer
Education only. This page is for general education for healthcare students, theatre staff and curious readers. It isn't medical advice and doesn't replace advice from your own doctor, surgical team or local unit protocols. Equipment and medicines are described generically. No product or manufacturer is recommended. If you think someone is having a medical emergency, call 999.
Disclosure: I work in the medical device industry. This page is independent education and isn't sponsored or reviewed by any company.
All diagrams on this page are original illustrations created for rodnieoro.com.
