FALLOPOSCOPY IN CONJUNCTION WITH LAPAROSCOPY - POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Falloposcopy is a transvaginal microendoscopic technique to explore th e human Fallopian tube from the uterotubal ostium to the fimbrial end. Falloposcopy provides a unique possibility to visualize endotubal dis ease and may be used therapeutically for removal of debris and for cut ting down filmy intraluminal adhesions. To assess the clinical perform ance of falloposcopy as part of an infertility investigation, a total of 43 women scheduled for laparoscopy as part of an investigation of i nfertility had a falloposcopy performed in conjunction with the laparo scopy. All women were investigated at Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm and Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala, during 1995 and 1996, Images from the e ndosalpinx mere obtained in 26 of 43 women (60.5%). In 10 women (23.3% ), it was possible to obtain images from both tubes. No images were of sufficient quality to describe the entire tubal mucosa in detail. Fal loposcopy represents a unique tool for visualization of endotubal dise ase and may provide a valuable instrument for in-vivo exploration of t ubal physiology, However, certain technical problems limit the usefuln ess of this method in routine clinical practice. These technical probl ems have to be solved before falloposcopy can achieve a central positi on in investigation and treatment of tubal disease.