Methods:
A retrospective study of consecutive technically successful FTR procedures from January 2010 through December 2016 was performed. The study was conducted at a single tertiary academic medical center. Women were included in this study if they met the following criteria: a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) confirmed tubal occlusion, a technically successful FTR, 1 year of follow-up after the procedure or became pregnant within the year after the FTR procedure. Technically successful FTR was defined as patency of the tube, as demonstrated by spontaneous spill of contrast into the peritoneal cavity, at the conclusion of the procedure after an intervention was performed.
Procedurally, similar methods were used as described previously by RÓ§sch and Thurmond [20-21]. This included an HSG at the beginning of the procedure, identifying the obstruction, selective canalization of the fallopian tube with a catheter, use of hydrophilic glide wire to cross the obstruction, and concluding with a post-procedural HSG (Figure 1). All women received peri- and post-procedural antibiotics, with the most common regimen of doxycycline 100 mg by mouth twice daily for 5 days, starting 2 days prior to the procedure.
In women who had technically successful FTR procedures and the inclusion criteria, the following data were recorded: complication, pregnancy, and take-home-baby (THB) rates. For purposes of this study, the THB rate was defined as the number of women who conceived and delivered a live baby. Additionally, sub-analysis of pregnancy rates was performed on women who did not conceive after a technically successful FTR and went onto assisted reproductive techniques.
This study was performed with local institutional review board approval.