Possibilities and limits of operative hysteroscopy: an update on transcervical resectoscopic uterine surgery

In infertility therapy operative hysteroscopy by means of high-frequency surgery has replaced laparotomy in many cases. Thus today the therapy of intrauterine synechias, septa and myoma is a major sector in hysteroscopic metroplasty. Uterine haemorrhage is another area of indications for transcervical high-frequency surgery. In menstrual disorders caused by polyps, submucous myoma or without any anatomic reason transcervical electrosurgery helps to avoid more and more hysterectomies. The increasing importance of this method becomes obvious in the 1991-AAGL-Survey according to which within three years the number of operative hysteroscopies has risen to 17,298, thus doubled within this period of time. The present article based on literature and personal experience gives an overview of technical equipment available, complications, operative technics and risks. Furthermore, the frequency of success and complications of transcervical resectoscopic surgery are also discussed.