Radiographic aspects of office hysteroscopic tubal occlusion with siloxane intratubal devices (the Ovabloc method).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the importance of radiographs in women sterilized with hysteroscopically applied siloxane intratubal devices (ITDs).


METHODS
A retrospective study of the frequency of abnormal radiographs in 500 women was carried out. The agreement in judging these radiographs and the expected reliability of the sterilization was measured.


RESULTS
Abnormal radiographs were mostly documented in the first 100 sterilization procedures. Agreement in judging the radiographs is substantial. Different agreements on the expected reliability are due to the difference in experience with this sterilization method.


CONCLUSIONS
Four types of abnormal radiographs can be categorized. Judgment of the radiographs can easily be learned. For the assessment of the reliability, training is necessary.
van der Leij
G
G
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schieland Hospital, Schiedam, The Netherlands. vdley43@worldaccess.nl
Lammes
F B
FB
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal
C098873:Ovabloc; D012826:Silicone Elastomers