Reconstructive surgery of hydrosalpinx with and without the carbon dioxide laser

Pregnancy rates and surgery-conception intervals were determined in 91 women operated on for bilateral terminal tubal occlusion with different techniques. The intrauterine pregnancy rate following salpingostomy utilizing the CO2 laser was 21.7% (n = 23) and following salpingostomy with the microdiathermy needle was 22.7% (n = 22) at 1 year's follow-up. The pregnancy rate following conventional surgery was 17.4% (n = 46) at 5 years' follow-up. The surgery-conception interval was shorter in the laser group than in the other two groups. This preliminary report suggests that there is no difference between the pregnancy rate following salpingostomy with CO2 laser or microdiathermy needle; however, the surgery-conception interval is shorter. This might reflect the rapid healing of the tube after laser surgery.