The effect on pregnancy rates of tubal perfusion pressure reductions achieved by guide-wire tubal catheterization.
BACKGROUND
Selective salpingography enables us to measure the Fallopian tube perfusion pressure which, when high, can be effectively reduced with the use of transcervical guide-wire tubal catheterization. Whether fertility prognosis improves as a result is currently unknown. Our objective was to clarify the issue.


METHODS
Infertile women undergoing selective salpingography were classified into poor, mediocre and good tubal perfusion pressure groups, based on the distribution of tubal perfusion pressures in an unselected infertile population. Of 325 women, 150 (46.1%) were classified in the poor group and underwent guide-wire tubal catheterization.


RESULTS
Complete pregnancy and tubal perfusion pressure data were available for 104 (69.4%) subjects. Following tubal catheterization, 29 women (group A) could be classified in the good, 25 (group B) in the mediocre, while 50 women (group C) remained in the poor tubal perfusion pressure group. Survival analysis showed that the pregnancy rate in group A was significantly higher than the rates in groups B and C (P = 0.036 and 0.005 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Reductions of tubal perfusion pressures achieved with transcervical guide-wire tubal catheterization resulted in an improved fertility prognosis for women. Selective salpingography and tubal catheterization might have a wider role in the management of the infertile couple than currently believed.
Papaioannou
Spyros
S
12 Metfield Croft, Harborne, Birmingham B17 0NN, UK. spryrospap@talk21.com
Afnan
Masoud
M
Girling
Alan J
AJ
Coomarasamy
Aravinthan
A
Ola
Bolarinde
B
Olufowobi
Olufemi
O
McHugo
Josephine M
JM
Hammadieh
Nahed
N
Sharif
Khaldoun
K
D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011312:Pressure; D016019:Survival Analysis