Hysterosalpingography with selective salpingography.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of selective salpingography to achieve tubal patency in patients with proximal fallopian tube occlusion on hysterosalpingography (HSG).

STUDY

DESIGN

We performed a retrospective cohort study on 116 infertile women (age 37.7 +/- 4.6 years) with proximal tubal obstruction treated with selective salpingography. Success was defined as opening at least 1 fallopian tube. Pregnancy was defined as having a positive beta-hCG level.

RESULTS

A total of 151 tubes were blocked on HSG before tubal catheterization; 103 tubes were opened by selective salpingography. Of 116 patients, 84 (72.4%) had successful procedures with at least 1 tube opened by catheterization. Of the 116, 32 (27.6%) had failed procedures with no tubes opened. Of 83 patients, 30 (36.1%) with successful procedures achieved pregnancy. Of these pregnancies, 16 occurred spontaneously or following ovulation induction and 5 pregnancies occurred in the failure group, allfollowing in vitro fertilization.

CONCLUSION

Selective salpingography is useful in demonstrating tubal patency, reducing the diagnosis of tubal disease and potentially minimizing surgery in infertile patients.