Comparison of the Success Rate of Recanalization According to Morphologic Patterns in Proximal Obstructed Fallopian Tube

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the success rate of recanalization in three types of the proximal fallopian tube obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transcervical fallopian tube catheterization (TFTC) was performed in 141 infertile patients with 239 fallopian tube obstruction. Three-coaxial catheter and 0.018 inch guide wire(Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) were employed for the recanalization. The obstructed proximal fallopian tubes were divided into three groups according to the appearance of the distal end of obstructed fallopian tubes smooth tapering, concave, or convex. RESULTS: Recanalization was successful in 151 of 239 tubes(63.2%) ; success rates were 82.7%(62/75) in the smooth tapering group, 80.2%(69/86) in the concave, and 25.6%(20/78) in the convex. In theproximal portion, success rates were 80.3%(53/66) in the smooth tapering group, 82.6%(38/46) in the concave, and 48.5%(16/33) in the convex. Eighty-nine patients were successfully recanalized. Sixty-four of 89 patients were followed-up for more than one year and 29 patients(45%) became pregnant. Complications occurred in 37 tubes, tube perforation in 32, re-obstruction in five, and ectopic pregnancy in one. CONCLUSION: The success rate of recanalization of an obstructed proximal fallopian tube was higher in smooth tapering and concave types than inthe convex type.