Evaluating the possibility of uterine transfer by ultrasonically guided transabdominal puncture.
Ultrasonically guided transvesical puncture of the uterine endometrial cavity was carried out in 16 patients to evaluate the feasibility of embryo transfer by this procedure. Instillation of fluid into the uterine cavity was achieved in all cases and easily performed in 15 patients. In one patient the fundal endometrium was reached in the third attempt. Instillation of fluid within the endometrium was attempted unsuccessfully in four patients, as the fluid leaked into the uterine cavity. In 12 patients 2-4 ml of fluid was injected. The fluid passed down through the cervix in patients in the luteal phase (nine patients) when 3 ml or more was injected. When a smaller amount of fluid was instilled it remained inside the cavity. In one patient in the preovulatory phase the fluid was actively pumped by uterine contractions into the vagina. Two cases in the proliferative phase showed no leakage from the cervix when 1.5 and 2 ml of fluid was injected, respectively.
D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000502:physiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods*; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014599:Uterus / Q000601:surgery