Fertility Outcomes following Laparoscopy-Assisted Hysteroscopic Fallopian Tube Cannulation: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Objectives. To determine fertility outcomes following laparoscopy-guided hysteroscopic tubal cannulation for cornual obstruction. Study Design. A prospective cohort study in Life Institute for Endoscopy at Life Specialist Hospital Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria. Patients with unilateral or bilateral cornual tubal obstruction as the only cause of infertility were included. Outcome measures included successful tubal recanalization, procedural complications, conception rates (first spontaneous conception after the procedure), and live birth rates. Results. Forty-nine infertile women were assessed for eligibility, but 27 met the inclusion criteria. Of 27 women, 24 (88.9%) had bilateral cornual obstruction and 3 (11.1%) had unilateral obstruction. Only three (11.1%) patients had failed cannulation. Successful recanalization rate was 90.2% (46/51) per tube and 88.9% (24/27) per patient. In the 24 patients with successfully recanalization, six spontaneous pregnancies (25.0%) and two intrauterine insemination-assisted pregnancies (8.3%) occurred within first six months of follow-up. All the eight (100.0%) pregnancies were intrauterine. The overall conception rate and live birth rate was 33.3%. There were no pre- or postprocedural complications. Conclusion. Successful recanalization rate was 90.2% per tube and 88.9% per patient with a conception rate of 33.3%. Women with only cornual obstruction should be considered first for laparoscopy-assisted hysteroscopic cannulation before assisted reproduction.