Fallopian tubes: improved technique for catheterization

Successful fallopian tube catheterization for diagnosis or treatment of infertility combines hysterosalpingographic and angiographic techniques. An improvement in the catheterization strategy was developed so that angled, tortuous, or more distally obstructed fallopian tubes could be catheterized. In 22 patients, 38 fallopian tubes were catheterized by using this strategy. In nine tubes (24%), forceful ostial injection alone of contrast material was able to open and/or depict the fallopian tube. In 13 tubes (34%), a discrete obstruction was recanalized by using the standard fallopian tube catheterization set. In 12 tubes (32%), successful recanalization required the use of a softer, tapered guide wire and catheter. In four tubes (10%), recanalization was unsuccessful.