Rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a systematic review

Abstract

To assess the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in cases of fertilization failure, using a scientific literature search. Systematic review. Centers for reproductive care. Infertility patients with total or partial fertilization failure during an IVF cycle. An electronic literature search was performed in PubMed from 1992 through May 2013. The search was then expanded by using listed references from selected articles. Pregnancy rate. The secondary outcome measures were fertilization rate, normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate, birth rate, and malformation rate. Thirty-eight studies including 1,863 patients were included. The pooled pregnancy rate was 14.4%; 194 babies were delivered. Rescue ICSI can result in the delivery of a healthy newborn, although the pregnancy rates are low. The clinical evidence did not indicate an elevated rate of malformations, although the data are limited and incomplete.