title: Diagnostic and therapeutic value of selective salpingography and tubal catheterization in an unselected infertile population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present diagnostic findings and fertility outcome after selective salpingography and tubal catheterization in an unselected infertile population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary reproductive medicine unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ten consecutive infertile women. No exclusion criteria were applied. Follow-up ranged from 16 to 54 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective salpingography and tubal catheterization under fluoroscopic guidance as the primary test for the assessment of the fallopian tubes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence of tubal disease at selective salpingography, therapeutic effectiveness of tubal catheterization, and fertility outcome after the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tubal disease was present in 31.4% of the tubes examined. Of tubes proximally blocked at selective salpingography, 52.1% were found to be normal after tubal catheterization. Proximal tubal blockage (bilateral or unilateral) was detected in 34.8% of women. This was reduced to 5.5% after tubal catheterization. Spontaneous conceptions occurred in 21.9% of the women. In total, 36.2% conceived without IVF or ICSI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selective salpingography and tubal catheterization can be useful as a primary tubal assessment tool in the investigation of infertility. In cases of proximal tubal blockage, an effective see-and-treat approach can be adopted. More research into the possible therapeutic benefits of the procedure is justified.
authors.affiliation: Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women's Hospital, United Kingdom. spyrospap@talk21.com
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papaioannou
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afnan
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Girling
authors.forename: Bolarinde
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ola
authors.forename: Olufemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Olufowobi
authors.forename: Aravinthan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coomarasamy
authors.forename: Kaldoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharif
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D016896:Treatment Outcome