[Endoscopic diagnosis preceding reconstructive surgery of the fallopian tube]

Between October 1978 and December 1980 165 diagnostic laparoscopies were carried out because of the suspected diagnosis of primary tubal infertility. In this preselected series 27.9% of the cases had normal findings. It was remarkable that the previous diagnosis was not confirmed in 21 cases which had a prior infertility work-up. In 17 of these cases tubal occlusion was diagnosed by laparoscopy or hysterosalpingography but was not confirmed by the repeat laparoscopy. In addition 1 case of tubal tuberculosis and 1 case of tubal anomaly were detected which were missed with the prior work-up. Because of the findings in this series the repeat diagnostic laparoscopy prior to micro-surgical reconstruction of the fallopian tubes is necessary and the referring clinics should show comprehension for the repeat laparoscopy prior to micro-surgery. In the sequence of diagnostic test, laparoscopy it selected prior to hysterosalpingography.