RADIOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF OFFICE HYSTEROSCOPIC TUBAL OCCLUSION WITH SILOXANE INTRATUBAL DEVICES (THE OVABLOC(R) METHOD)

Objective: To evaluate the importance of radiographs in women steriliz ed with hysteroscopically applied siloxane intratubal devices (ITDs). Methods: A retrospective study of the frequency of abnormal radiograph s in 500 women was carried out. The agreement in judging these radiogr aphs and the expected reliability of the sterilization was measured. R esults: Abnormal radiographs were mostly documented in the first 100 s terilization procedures. Agreement in judging the radiographs is subst antial. Different agreements on the expected reliability are due to th e difference in experience with this sterilization method. Conclusions : Four types of abnormal radiographs can be categorized. Judgment of t he radiographs can easily be learned. For the assessment of the reliab ility, training is necessary. (C) 1997 International Federation of Gyn ecology and Obstetrics.