Falloposcopic tuboplasty as an option for
tubal infertility: an alternative to in vitro
fertilization
This is a case series to evaluate the efficacy of falloposcopic tuboplasty (FT), a surgical technique of recanalizationof occluded fallopian tube. Of 153 patients with tubal infertility for more than 2 years who underwent FT, 28.9%(44 patients) conceived, and 27.3%, 75.0%, and 88.8% conceived in 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after FT,respectively. (Fertil Steril 2011;95:441–3. 2011 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)
Key Words: Falloposcopic tuboplasty, tubal occlusion, natural conception

Fallopian tube disease is responsible for 20%–30% of female infertility worldwide, the second most common cause of infertility
after unexplained infertility, and finding a solution has preoccupied gynecologists for many years (1). Surgical attempts to recanalize occluded fallopian tubes have been made, but the results
varied according to the technique as well as the surgeon (1). The
reports of these early attempts were frustrating and almost led toabandonment of this approach.
Since the introduction of IVF in the 1980s, the worldwide trends
in therapeutic choices for tubal infertility have shifted from surgical recanalization of fallopian tubes toward IVF, and fewer
attempts were made at surgical recanalization. However, there isa substantial population of tubal infertile patients who wish torecover tubal patency for subsequent natural conception. In the1990s, the concept of tubal cannulation emerged again as an alternative to treat patients with cornual obstruction. For this purpose,
the technique of falloposcopic tuboplasty (FT) has been established as a tool to reopen occluded fallopian tubes (2, 3).
This is a case series of 160 tubal infertile patients who underwent FT from January 1, 2005, to February 28, 2010, at our institution. Written informed consent was obtained from each patient
before FT was performed. Tubal occlusion was diagnosed by either
hysterosalpingography (HSG) or hydrotubation with diluted
indigo carmine solution during laparoscopic surgery. The FT
was indicated when the occlusion was in the proximal portion ofthe tube. Patients with midsegment occlusion and distal tubal
obstruction were excluded from indication. In total 153 patientswere included in our analysis. As transient tubal occlusion may
be induced by uterine and tubal contraction due to pain, tubal
Yudai Tanaka, M.D., Ph.D.
Hiroto Tajima, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yazaki Hospital,Kanagawa, Japan
Received November 1, 2009; revised June 21, 2010; accepted July 12,2010; published online August 25, 2010.
Y.T. has nothing to disclose. H.T. has nothing to disclose.
Reprint requests: Yudai Tanaka, M.D., Ph.D., 1-1-16 Kamitsuchidana-Naka
Ayase, Kanagawa 252-1113, Japan (FAX: 81-466-41-0332; E-mail:yudai_hello@yahoo.co.jp).

0015-0282/$36.00
doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.07.1065

occlusion was confirmed by either HSG at two occasions or one
HSG and one intraoperative hydrotubation.
The patients’ ages ranged from 22–49 years with a mean of 34.6years. The occlusion was unilateral in 51 cases (33.3%), and bilateral in the remaining 102 cases (66.7%, 2.0 times the rate ofunilateral occlusion). The mean operative time was 17 minutes(range, 14  28 minutes). Patients were discharged 3–5 hours after
the surgery depending on their recovery from the anesthesia. Tubalrecanalization was defined as successful only when the inner
sheath was extended to its full length (11 cm), with a clear imageof the tubal intralumen bilaterally; when the ipsilateral tube
remained occluded, the case was considered to be a failure. Pregnancy was attempted either by natural intercourse or by IUI any
time after the surgery.
All procedures were done using an FT catheter system (ImagynMedical, Inc., Irvine, CA), which is distributed by Terumo Corporation (Tokyo, Japan), as described elsewhere (2). The FT catheter
system consists of three units: a charge coupled device video camera and light source, a falloposcope, and a linear eversion (LE)catheter. The LE catheter consists of an outer catheter sheath
and an inner body attached to a tubular pressurized polyethylene
balloon, which can be unrolled from within a plastic polymer cannula after the falloposcope is preloaded into its lumen. The processof tubal dilatation and images of tubal intralumen is shown inFigure 1. The balloon inside the LE catheter is pressurized by aninflation device filled with normal saline. The high-resolution falloposcope, achieving a 5,000-pixel image bundle, passes throughthe central channel of the LE catheter, and is connected to thecharge coupled device video camera. As the balloon unrolls, it carries the falloposcope into and along the tubal lumen to a maximum
length of 11 cm. When the balloon encounters an obstruction, it isfelt as resistance against the forward advancement of the balloon.
When this occurs, the inflation pressure is gradually increased tobreak down the adhesion. Tubal perforation by the tip of catheter
may occur when one pushes the catheter forward too hard. In thisseries, the perforation occurred in two patients (1.3%). However,this perforated hole is very small, therefore it will close spontaneously without any particular follow-up as the outer diameter of thefalloposcope is very small (0.6 mm). Once perforation occurs, weconsider it as treatment failure and advise patients to undergo IVF.

Fertility and Sterility Vol. 95, No. 1, January 2011
Copyright ª2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Published by Elsevier Inc.

441

FIGURE 1
Schema of the linear eversion (LE) catheter and release of tubal occlusion and images of the intralumen of fallopian tube. (A) The LE catheter is
progressed into the tubal lumen. (B) The outer sheath is then extended to break down the occlusion with the balloon pressurized at 6–9 atm.
The falloposcope stays within the outer sheath so that it will not be damaged. (C) The occlusion is released. The falloposcope is extended tothe surface of the balloon so that the intralumen can be observed. In normal fallopian tubes, the intralumen is filled with a gyrus-like mucosa(arrows), which can be clearly seen when it moves during irrigation with normal saline (a). In the occluded portion, the mucosa is completely
absent and the surface is flat (b). When the occluded portion was successfully recanalized by the falloposcopic tuboplasty catheter, the gyruslike mucosa can usually be recovered (arrow), depending on the degree of adhesion (c).

Tanaka. Correspondence. Fertil Steril 2011.

The successful recanalization rate was 94.8% (145/153), and thepregnancy rate (PR) was 28.9% (44/153). Of those who conceived,
8 patients (18.2%) had miscarriages and 3 (6.8%) had ectopic
pregnancies (EP). Of the 44 patients who conceived, 12 (27.3%)
conceived in 1 month after FT; 75.0% and 88.8% of the patientsconceived in 6 and 12 months after FT, respectively.

Drug Administration approved the FT catheter system in 1997.
Although the mechanism of the FT catheter system is complicated,
it takes only 10 cases or so to master the technique as long as
appropriate instruction is given by an experienced trainer.

Accidental breakage of the LE catheter and falloposcope
occurred in 15 cases (9.8%) and 3 cases (2.0%), respectively.
Although there was no harm to the patients in any of these
instances, another LE catheter or falloposcope was required tocomplete the procedure. There was no statistical difference inrecanalization rate between cases in which instruments breakage
occurred and did not occur.

However, as the use of IVF spread worldwide in the 1990s, therecovery of tubal patency attracted less interest from gynecologists, putting FT as rather remote technique. In fact, a search of
PubMed using the keyword ‘‘falloposcopic tuboplasty’’ failed tofind any articles published in the 2000s, and only four articles in
the 1990s. According to TERUMO Corporation, the unique manufacturer of falloposcopy in the world, it is only Japan where they
supply the LE catheter. Even in Japan, there are less than 10 facilities where FT is capable of being performed regularly at present.

In early 1990s, falloposcopy was first developed for the purposeof direct visualization of the entire length of the fallopian tubelumen (2–4). As falloposcopy techniques were refined, FT wasestablished not only as a diagnostic tool but also as a way totreat occluded fallopian tubes (3). The United States Food andThe FT can be an option to women with tubal infertility who do
not wish to undergo IVF. In the present study we have shown that
FT is an effective and useful treatment for tubal infertility, yieldinga PR equivalent to IVF. The International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology reported that PR of442

Tanaka and TajimaCorrespondence

Vol. 95, No. 1, January 2011

IVF/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of 53 countries in2002 ranges from 16%–37% (5).
The cumulative number of successful pregnancies showeda characteristic tendency. Of the 44 women who become pregnant,12 patients (27.3%) conceived within 1 month and 88% of thepregnancies occurred within the first year after FT. This suggeststhat the recanalized tubes do not remain patent permanently, andreocclusion may occur in a year. Similarly, the PR after HSG
increases, but only temporarily (6). Based on our data we advise
patients that the golden time for natural conception after FT isabout 1 year.
Three pregnancies (6.8%) resulted in EP. This higher rate should
be considered as a late complication. All three patients had a history of previous EP, and two patients were positive for Chlamydia
antibodies. These results suggest that there are cases in which abil-

ity of transportation of embryo from tube to uterine cavity remains
impaired even after recanalization of fallopian tube. If the occultedtubes had not been reopened, these patients possibly would nothave developed EP. Thus, we always emphasis the possible increased risk of EP, especially if a patient has a history of EP,
when informed consent is obtained before FT.
In conclusion, FT can be an excellent alternative to IVF for tubal
infertility, with a PR of 28.9%, which is comparable to that of IVF.
The procedure is not difficult to master and is less invasive thanother surgical techniques for recanalization. However, the risk
for EP may slightly be increased after FT. Reocclusion may occur
within 1 year. Nonetheless, we propose that FT is an attractive therapeutic option for patients suffering from tubal infertility and hopethat FT will gain more popularity in the field of reproductive
medicine.

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