Abstract
Objectives. To determine whether hysteroscopic tubal occlusion will produce the same efficacy as laparoscopic tubal occlusion of functionless hydrosalpinx prior to IVF/ICSI. Design. A prospective comparative study. Setting. Endoscopy Unit of the Women's Health Center, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Subjects. A pilot safety phase included 10 uteri removed by hysterectomy in perimenopausal women subjected to roller ball coagulation of the peritubal bulge. The study phase included 27 patients with uni- or bilateral functionless hydrosalpinges, who were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A comprised 14 patients who were randomly allocated for laparoscopic occlusion. Group B included 13 patients scheduled for a hysteroscopic approach. Interventions. Laparoscopic occlusion of the isthmic part of the fallopian tube was carried out using bipolar diathermy in 9 (64%) cases or clips in 3 (21.4%) cases in Group A. Roller ball electrode of the resectoscope was utilised for occlusion of the tubal ostium under local, spinal, or general anesthesia in Group B. Second-look office hysteroscopy was performed in Group B whenever possible. In both groups, hysterosalpingography or sonohysterography was carried out 1 month later to confirm tubal occlusion. Main outcome measures. Safety phase aimed at confirming tubal occlusion with minimal harm to adjacent tissues. Confirmed tubal occlusion of the functionless hydrosalpinx. Results. The safety phase resulted in bilateral complete occlusion of the proximal part of the tubes with secondary coagulation <8 mm, as shown in the histopathologic sections. The suspected main cause of functionless hydrosalpinges was iatrogenic (pelvic surgery) in 9 (64%) and 8 (61.5%) cases in both groups, respectively. The mean number of abdominal scars/patient was 1.4 and 1.5 in both groups, respectively. Unilateral functionless hydrosalpinx was encountered in 7 (50%) and 5 (38%) cases in both groups, respectively. In Group A, the procedure was possible and successful in 10 cases (76.9%), while in Group B, hysteroscopic access and occlusion were achieved in 12 (85.7%) and 9 (64.2%) cases, respectively. In Group B, diagnostic hysteroscopy showed fine marginal adhesions in 2 cases (15%), and a small polyp in 1 case (7.7%). Hysteroscopic tubal occlusion showed shorter operative time (9±2.8 versus 24±4.8min, p=0.0001) and hospital stay (2±1.8 versus 5±1.1h, p=0.0001). Second-look office hysteroscopy was performed in 8 cases in Group B and revealed no significant corneal lesions at the site of hysteroscopic occlusion. Conclusions. This preliminary study demonstrates the feasibility of hysteroscopic tubal occlusion of functionless hydrosalpinx in all cases with acceptable efficacy. It has the advantage of adding a valuable evaluation of the endometrial cavity prior to IVF/ICSI. It should be an option for treatment protocol in cases of functionless hydrosalpinges. Further large sample-sized studies are required to test its impact on the implantation rate and clinical outcome.