Attending Physician Northwell Health, United States
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the epidemiology and diagnostic findings of fallopian tube obstruction (FTO) as a cause of infertility.
Review the pre-procedure preparation and steps for performing fallopian tube recanalization (FTR).
Review potential complications and post-procedural management of patients who undergo FTR.
Background: Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse and remains a global issue with increasing incidence. Fallopian tube disease is estimated to account for up to 67% of infertility cases, with up to a fourth of these attributed to proximal tubal occlusion. Initial diagnosis of FTO is typically made with a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). Non-opacification of either fallopian tube is diagnostic of FTO. Another supporting imaging finding is venous intravasation of contrast into the myometrial vessels due to increased intrauterine pressure during contrast infusion. FTR is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of FTO, boasting high technical success rates and relatively lower cost than other forms of infertility treatment.
Clinical Findings/Procedure Details: This abstract provides an overview of FTR, covering its indications, contraindications, pre-procedural preparation, and steps for execution. Potential complications and post-procedural management strategies will also be discussed. Additionally, an institutional review of patients who underwent FTR will be presented, alongside a discussion of tuboplasty and other techniques to re-establish tubal patency.
Conclusion and/or Teaching Points: FTR is a cost-effective, minimally invasive procedure with a high technical success rate for the treatment of infertility secondary to FTO. It can be performed in conjunction with other infertility treatments and is both diagnostic and therapeutic.
