The importance of periadnexal adhesions in tubal reconstructive surgery for infertility

Abstract

In only a few studies of reconstructive surgery for infertility has the importance of periadnexal adhesions been examined with regard to the pregnancy rate. In the present study, 101 patients underwent reconstructive surgery for correction of infertility. Subsequent to surgery, 38.6% of the patients conceived, and 72% of the pregnancies terminated in live births. In analyzing the results, attention was focused upon the correlation between the severity of the periadnexal adhesions and the surgical outcome. By classifying the adhesions into four grades, an inverse relationship was noted between the grade of adhesions and the pregnancy rate. This relationship was consistent regardless of tubal condition, and thus became an important prognostic parameter. In the light of these findings it is felt that, in order to improve the results, more effort should be directed to the prevention of adhesion formation, together with the use of microsurgical technique in this particular field.