Fertility outcome analysis after modified laparoscopic microsurgical tubal anastomosis

Abstract

Modified laparoscopic microsurgical tubal anastomosis is an alternative for microsurgical anastomosis via laparotomy to reverse sterilization in women with renewed child wish. The current study aims to evaluate the fertility outcome after modified laparoscopic microsurgical tubal anastomosis. A retrospective study was performed. Fifty-eight women who underwent modified laparoscopic microsurgical tubal anastomosis were monitored to investigate the fertility outcome and characteristics of this new technology. Of the 58 patients, the cumulative pregnancy rate (PR) in the 42 patients with follow-up data was 23.8% (10/42), 57.1% (24/42), 66.7% (28/42), and 73.8% (31/42) within 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after surgery, respectively. The intrauterine PR was 69.0% (29/42). Two patients (4.8%) had ectopic pregnancies that occurred within 24 months of surgery; three cases ended in spontaneous abortion. The delivery rate was 83.9% (26/31). The length of operating time was 1.2±0.3 h, with a range of 1.0–2.5 h (60–145 min), and the mean time was approximately 75 min. The blood loss was relatively small, between 10 and 50 ml with an average amount of 22 ml. Thus, the modified laparoscopic tubal anastomosis is a highly successful procedure and a viable alternative to open abdominal microsurgical approaches. Compared with the traditional laparoscopic tubal sterilization reversal, this modified approach has three advantages: (1) less invasive approach via a trocar reduction; (2) remodeling of tube is better performing tied together after 3–4 sutures; and (3) faster operating time.

Keywords

modified laparoscopy / tubal anastomosis / microsurgery

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30671093), the “973” program of China (No. 2007CB948104).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg