title: The learning curve of selective salpingography and tubal catheterization.
abstract: 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.
authors: Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom. spyrospap@talk21.com
authors: Spyros
authors: S
authors: Papaioannou
authors: Masood
authors: M
authors: Afnan
authors: Alan J
authors: AJ
authors: Girling
authors: Bolarinde
authors: B
authors: Ola
authors: Nehed
authors: N
authors: Hammadieh
authors: Aravinthan
authors: A
authors: Coomarasamy
authors: Kaldoun
authors: K
authors: Sharif
mesh_terms: 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