Differential impact on pregnancy rate of selective salpingography, tubal catheterization and wire-guide recanalization in the treatment of proximal fallopian tube obstruction

Abstract

A total of 66 patients with proximal Fallopian tube (113 tubes) obstruction, as diagnosed by both laparoscopy and hysterosalpingogram, were each subjected to a transcervical recanalization procedure sequentially using selective salpingography followed, if necessary, by tubal catheterization with a soft Teflon 2-French catheter and finally, if needed, wire-guide cannulation. Each procedure were terminated once patency had been achieved without recourse to the next technique. Bilateral obstruction was present in 47 patients and unilateral in 19 patients. Patency was achieved in 39 (34.5%) Fallopian tubes by selective salpingography alone, in 52 (46.0%) by tubal catheterization and in 10 (8.9%) by wire guide, with 12 (10.6%) tubes remaining obstructed. Pregnancy occurred in 24 (36.4%) patients without recourse to other treatment (mean follow-up, 17 months). Where patency was achieved (59 patients), 19 out of 43 (44.1%) of those treated for bilateral obstruction and five out of 16 (31.3%) of those treated for unilateral obstruction achieved a pregnancy. Pregnancy occurred in six out of 22 patients (27.3%) where selective salpingography was used to produce tubal patency, in 17 out of 30 patients (56.7%) where tubal catheterization was used and in one out of seven (14.3%) where a wire guide was used, which was an ectopic pregnancy. The difference between the ongoing pregnancy rates following tubal catheterization (50.0%) and wire-guide cannulation (0.0%) was significant (P = 0.033). While wire-guide cannulation is the most effective method used to achieve tubal patency, these results indicate that when it is truly necessary, as opposed to electively used by clinicians, the prognosis with regard to pregnancy is poor and alternative therapy such as microsurgery or in-vitro fertilization should be considered early.