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.