Case series of tubo-ovarian abscesses after saline infusion sonohysterography: reconsidering antibiotic prophylaxis.

Abstract

Saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS) is useful for evaluating intrauterine pathology, particularly for patients with abnormal uterine bleeding and during assessment of infertility. Infectious complications are relatively rare, and tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) after SIS has only been reported once in the literature. We present two additional cases of TOA after SIS that presented to our institution. First, a 40-year-old female with known endometriosis and bilateral tubal occlusion, presented with ruptured TOA fifteen days after SIS during fertility evaluation. The second, a 45-year-old female with endometriomas and a hydrosalpinx identified on SIS, diagnosed with TOAs four days after SIS for abnormal uterine bleeding evaluation. While hysterosalpingogram has defined antibiotic prophylaxis criteria, and despite likely similar mechanisms for ascending infections, current guidelines do not recommend prophylaxis after SIS. These cases suggest infectious complications, such as TOA, after SIS may be more common than previously reported, and as demonstrated by these cases can have serious clinical consequences for patients. Furthermore, by comparing to a technically similar procedure as HSG, it may be reasonable to consider if certain patients at high risk of complication may benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent serious clinical infections.