The learning curve of selective salpingography and tubal catheterization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of increasing experience in fluoroscopically guided selective salpingography and tubal catheterization on radiation doses and screening times, thus establishing a learning curve for the procedure.


METHODS
Retrospective case note analysis.


METHODS
IVF center of an academic teaching hospital.


METHODS
Three hundred sixty-six patients with infertility seen over 3.5 years.


METHODS
Fluoroscopically guided selective salpingography and tubal catheterization.


METHODS
Reductions in radiation doses and screening times for different categories of selective salpingography and tubal catheterization, expressed as percentage reductions during the study period and reductions per 10 procedures.


RESULTS
During the study period, The median dose of radiation decreased by 62.6%-71.9%, and the median screening time declined by 61.5%-78.5%. Reductions per 10 procedures were 2.5%-4.2% and 2.7%-5%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant reductions in radiation doses and screening times start early in a clinical team's practice of selective salpingography and tubal catheterization and continue even as trainees are added to the pool of operators.
Papaioannou
Spyros
S
Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom. spyrospap@talk21.com
Afnan
Masood
M
Girling
Alan J
AJ
Ola
Bolarinde
B
Hammadieh
Nehed
N
Coomarasamy
Aravinthan
A
Sharif
Kaldoun
K
D002404:Catheterization; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007858:Learning; D008403:Mass Screening; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors