Fallopian tube catheterization under 3D vaginal ultrasound guidance followed by highly selective hysterosalpingo-foam sonography: an outpatient procedure.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the feasibility of our preliminary outpatient fallopian tube catheterization procedure under 3D vaginal ultrasound (US) guidance followed by highly selective hysterosalpingo-foam sonography (HyFoSy) in infertile women diagnosed with proximal tubal obstruction.

Materials and methods: A prospective trial was conducted from October 2022 to December 2023. 3D vaginal US was used to establish the precise location of the tip of the selective salpingography catheter at the tubal ostium. A roadrunner was used to cannulate the occluded portion of the fallopian tube. After tubal cannulation, ExEm foam was injected under direct US guidance to confirm tubal recanalization and its passage through the fallopian tubes.

Results: During the study period, a total of 14 women with proximal tubal occlusion underwent this procedure. Tubal patency was obtained in 92.8%. No immediate and remote complications were observed. To date three (21.4%) of the patients conceived after tubal catheterization and one had a live birth.

Conclusion: Outpatient fallopian tube catheterization under 3D vaginal US guidance followed by selective HyFoSy can be successfully implemented for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with proximal tubal occlusion. The 3D modality enables volume capture of the required acquisitioning and the subsequent post imaging analysis permitting further examination and study. Additional experience is needed to consolidate the feasibility of this innovative procedure and identify the patient subgroups that would benefit the most from this approach.