Diode laser assisted transcervical tubal sterilization: An in vivo study in rabbits

Background and Objective: To investigate the sterilization effectiveness of endoluminal tubal photocoagulation on tubal lumen obliteration. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Twenty-four female rabbits were subject ed to laparotomy and hysterotomy. Endoluminal tubal photocoagulation was in duced over a length of 3 cm in the proximal, extramural fallopian tube by u sing a cylindrical diffusing tip that emitted diode laser radiation at 805 and 980 nrn wavelengths. Tubal patency was evaluated by observing patterns of injected methylene blue and/or breeding success rates. Results: Postoperative recovery was uneventful in all animals. Evidence of occlusion of the tubal lumen included a negative methylene blue test in all 12 tubes treated (tubal occlusion rate 100%) and failure to conceive in 17 of 18 uteri (contraception rate 94.5%). Although identical power settings were used, distinctly lower tubal surface temperatures (about 10 degreesC) were obtained with the 805 nm diode laser as compared to the 980 nm diode l aser. Conclusion: The described endoluminal tubal photocoagulation method using a diode laser emitting longer wavelengths (e.g., 980 nm) is suitable for saf e and effective sterilization in rabbits and has potential as a new transce rvical tubal sterilization method for humans. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.