Abstract

Objective: To assess the intratubal pressure (ITP) and patency status of the fallopian tubes before and after transcervical catheterization of the fallopian tubes (TCFT).

Design: Prospective procedural assessment.

Setting: Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction.

Patients: Two hundred thirty-four women with either primary or secondary infertility.

Interventions: Patients underwent selective hysterosalpingography and, in some cases, TCFT with measurement of the ITP before and after the procedure.

Main Outcome Measures: The ITP before and after TCFT.

Results: The mean (±SD) ITP in freely patent tubes was 0.53 ± 0.06 atm, that in partially obstructed tubes was 1.23 ± 0.52 atm, and that in completely obstructed tubes was 2.79 ± 1.40 atm. After TCFT, the mean (±SD) ITP in partially obstructed tubes decreased to 0.64 ± 0.31 atm and that in completely obstructed tubes decreased to 1.86 ± 1.35 atm. The ITP was normalized in 76% of partially obstructed tubes and in 29.5% of completely obstructed tubes. In all cases of complete obstruction in which surgical correction was attempted, organic pathology was identified.

Conclusions: The procedure described is a safe and easy means of obtaining reliable and significant information on the status of the proximal fallopian tube.

Abstract Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10428171

Intratubal pressure before and after transcervical catheterization of the fallopian tubes.
Hilgers TW, Yeung P.
Fertil Steril. 1999 Jul;72(1):174-8.
PMID: 10428171