Gp. Young et al., POSTOPERATIVE HYSTEROSALPINGOGRAPHY - RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCES AND CLINICAL-RESULTS FOLLOWING TUBAL SURGERY, Journal of reproductive medicine, 38(12), 1993, pp. 924-928
Medical records and postoperative hysterosalpingograms on 23 women fol
lowing tubal surgery who failed to become pregnant within 2-28 months
were reviewed. A total of 39 tubes were analyzed. The surgical indicat
ions were reversal of tubal ligation in 24 tubes and correction of tub
al or perifimbrial disease in 15 tubes. Tubal ligation had been perfor
med by a variety of methods. At surgery, tubal patency, as shown by ch
romotubation, was seen in 37 (95%) of 39 tubes. On postoperative hyste
rosalpingography, tubal spillage was present in 32 (82%) of 39 tubes.
Radiographically, the tubes that spilled appeared normal except for oc
casional shortening after reversal of tubal ligation. The eventual pre
gnancy rate was 8 (35%) of 23 patients, with 7 intrauterine. Pregnancy
occurred only in women under 35 years and was more likely in the grou
p having reversal of tubal ligation. We conclude that among patients w
ho do not initially become pregnant following tubal surgery for infert
ility, tubal patency is restored in most. During hysterosalpingography
, tubes operated on may appear normal or shortened. On long-term follo
w-up, younger patients and those requiring tubal anastomosis only had
a higher pregnancy rate.