title: A prospective randomized comparison of the Wallace catheter and the Cook Echo-Tip catheter for ultrasound-guided embryo transfer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the performance of a new coaxial catheter system with an echo-dense tip (Cook Echo-Tip catheter) with a Wallace catheter during ultrasound-guided ET.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private academically affiliated infertility center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred fifty-one patients undergoing IVF-ET.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients underwent ultrasound-guided ET by a single physician with a standardized technique alternately using one of the two catheters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Implantation rates, pregnancy rates, ease of transfer, visualization, and status of catheter tip.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The echo-dense tip of the Cook Echo-Tip catheter was consistently seen with ultrasound guidance, minimizing the need for catheter movement to identify the tip. Implantation rate (30% vs. 35%), clinical pregnancy rate (57% vs. 55%), and ongoing pregnancy rate (49% vs. 47%) were similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Cook Echo-Tip catheter with its echogenic tip simplifies ultrasound-guided ET, but pregnancy success rates are similar to those obtained when a Wallace catheter is used.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Reproduction and the Foundation for Reproductive Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. vkarande@aol.com
authors.forename: Vishvanath
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karande
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hazlett
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vietzke
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gleicher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography