Reconstructive tubal surgery for midtubal obstruction

With the currently growing trend toward voluntary sterilization comes an increase in requests for reversal of that procedure. In our study, 14 patients were candidates for tubal reanastomosis. Seven of the patients became pregnant within 17 months after the procedure: three had normal infants (21%), three had ectopic pregnancies (21%), and one was lost to follow-up (7%). We emphasized very careful handling of the tissues and as short an operative period as possible. We did not use corticosteroids or polyethylene or Teflon prosthetic devices, believing them to be neither a substitute for nor an aid to careful surgical techniques involving delicate instruments and small, atraumatic needles.