[Tuboscopy. Initial experiences with microendoscopic tubal diagnosis]

To date, investigators have relied on hysterosalpingography, hysterosalpingoscintigraphy, and laparoscopic chromopertubation for the diagnosis of tubal disease causing infertility. With the development of the "linear everting catheter" system it may now be possible to evaluate the tubal lumen and to diagnose changes in the tubal wall or the tubal mucosa by direct visualization. This paper describes our initial clinical experience with 14 women who underwent evaluation for infertility. The new catheter system allowed both inspection of the tubal ostium without cervical dilation or concomitant hysteroscopy and virtually atraumatic access to the tube by means of an endoscope measuring half a millimeter in diameter and a magnification of 40. Given adequate experience with this technique it may also be performed in an outpatient setting. Ultimately, tuboscopy may come to play a major part in the diagnosis of sterility. Other potential applications of this new technology are the tubal transfer of embryos, intratubal insemination and the conservative treatment of tubal pregnancy.