Value and limitation of interventional recanalization for infertility induced by fallopian tube obstruction

Abstract

Objective To explore the value and limitation of interventional recanalization for infertility induced by fallopian tube obstruction.Methods The X-ray appearances and clinical efficacies of hysterosalpingography and interventional recanalization for infertility induced by fallopian tube obstruction in 160 patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results Of the 160 patients,72 patients had bilateral tubal obstruction and 88 had unilateral obstruction,accounting for 45.0% and 55.0%,respectively.232 of the 320 fallopian tubes showed different degrees of obstruction; 105 tubes （45.3%） occurred interstitial obstruction,70 （30.2%） occurred isthmus obstruction,22 （9.5%） developed ampullary obstruction,and 35 （15.1%） developed umbrella end obstruction （some with hydrosalpinx）.Recanalization was successful in 197 tubes,with a total recanalization rate of 85.0%; 98 of which were successful for interstitial recanalization,with a rate of 93.3%,65 were successful for isthmus recanalization,with a rate of 92.9%,19 were successful for ampullary recanalization,with a rate of 86.4%,and 15 were successful for fimbria recanalization,with a rate of 42.9%.During the period of one-year follow-up,64 were pregnant,with a pregnancy rate of 40.0%; 9 developoed ectopic pregnancy after recanalization,with a rate of 5.6%.40 fallopian tube re-obsturcted,with a rate of 20.3%.Conclusions Interventional recanalization is an effective method for obstructive infertility induced by the three segment （interstitial,isthmus,and pot belly） obstruction of the fallopian tube; but it is not suitable for umbrella end obstruction complicated by hydrosalpinx. Key words: Interventional recanalization; Fallopian tube obstruction; Infertility; Value and limitation