Falloposcopic cannulation, oviductal appearances and prediction of treatment independent intrauterine pregnancy.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the appearance of the oviductal lumen during falloposcopic examination, and the occurrence of intrauterine pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy independent of treatment. Sixty-two consecutive women were recruited who were examined falloposcopically in-office, and who did not require subsequent surgical intervention to restore tubal patency. There was a heterogeneous group of presentations including unilateral and bilateral proximal tubal occlusion, unexplained infertility and the presence of minor laparoscopic abnormalities which might suggest the possibility of occult endotubal pathology. A stepwise Cox's model of life table analysis selected the number of falloposcopically normal and patent Fallopian tubes as the only variable significantly associated with intrauterine pregnancy, when all clinical, demographic and investigative data were analysed. The presence of minor distal intra-tubal adhesions was selected on stepwise analysis as the only variable significantly associated with the occurrence of ectopic pregnancy. A number of falloposcopic abnormalities were significantly associated with outcome in the clinical sub-group who presented with bilateral proximal tubal occlusion. These data suggest that falloposcopy is a valuable clinical tool which provides useful prognostic data for the prediction of intrauterine pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy.