Salpingectomy refers to the surgical removal of a Fallopian tube. The procedure was first performed by Lawson Tait in patients with a bleeding tubal pregnancy and has saved the lives of countless women. Other indications are infected tubes, i.e. a hydrosalpinx. Also salpingectomy needs to be done as part of a surgical procedure for tubal cancer. Salpingectomy has been traditionally done via a laparotomy, more recently as part of minimally invasive surgery through laparoscopy. Salpingectomy is commonly part of a "complete" hysterectomy and is part of a salpingo-oophorectomy when both tube and ovary are removed. Salpingectomy is different than a salpingostomy, a procedure where an opening is made into the tube to remove an ectopic pregnancy, but the tube itself is not removed.