The alleviation of uterocornual spasm of the Fallopian tubes during hysterosalpingography by intravenous administration of orciprenaline.
A simple, safe and reliable method of differentiating between organic obstruction spasm at the uterocornual junction of the oviduct during routine hysterosalpingography is described. Seventeen patients were studied. In all patients uterocornual obstruction was found during hysterosalpingography, which was performed without general anaesthesia. In 8 patients the apparent obstruction was alleviated within 30 seconds of the intravenous administration of 0.25 mg orciprenaline. Surgical and endoscopic findings confirmed the presence of the obstruction in all the other 9 patients. These findings are discussed on the basis of the neuro-anatomy of the Fallopian tube. It is suggested that this form of treatment, in many cases, eliminates the need to perform the procedure under general anaesthesia, which is the only other method of consistently alleviating such a 'spasm'. The use of orciprenaline may facilitate a rapid turnover of patients in units where hysterosalpingography is performed as a screening investigation for infertility. Furthermore, it is suggested that the oral administration of beta-adrenergic agents during the peri-ovulatory period to patients in whom 'tubal spasm' has been diagnosed might offer a rational approach to treatment.
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005187:Fallopian Tubes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009921:Metaproterenol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013035:Spasm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy
D009921:Metaproterenol