Salpingoscopy: an adjunctive technique for evaluation of the fallopian tube.
The success of tubal surgery is dependent upon both the nature and extent of tubal damage as well as the expertise of the surgeon. The present study describes the new technique of salpingoscopy to further appraise the status of tubal health by examination of the endosalpinx, utilizing readily available equipment. There were no complications during salpingoscopy attributable to the endoscopic procedure itself, except for a minimal amount of bleeding occasionally noted on the tubal serosa at the site of forceps stabilization. A discordance of 23.5% was noted overall between the fimbrial appearance at surgery and salpingoscopic examination. This new technique of tubal evaluation may eventually help the reproductive surgeon to more accurately counsel the patient in the choice between tubal reconstructive surgery or IVF-ET, one of the most difficult decisions in reproductive surgery today.
Shapiro
B S
BS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
Diamond
M P
MP
DeCherney
A H
AH
D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy