[Proximal tubal obstruction. Treatment by recanalization and transcervical dilatation]

Abstract

Forty-three fluoroscopic transcervical fallopian tube recanalizations were performed in 30 consecutive patients whose infertility was due to proximal tubal obstruction demonstrated by hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy. All had been recommended tubal microsurgery or in vitro fertilization. Thirty fallopian tubes (81 percent) were successfully recanalized, with balloon dilatation in 20 (57 percent). Six intrauterine and one ectopic pregnancies resulted from successful tuboplasty. Six women who did not conceive underwent follow-up hysterosalpingography 6 months on average after tuboplasty; 2 were found to have tubal reocclusion. There was no difference in our results between patients simply recanalized and those in whom recanalization was combined with balloon dilatation. We conclude that transcervical balloon tuboplasty is an effective treatment of infertility caused by proximal tubal obstruction.