The use of a new gel foam for the evaluation of tubal patency

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility and the reliability of hysterosalpingo-foam sonography (HyFoSy) using gel foam in the assessment of tubal patency.

Methods: Nonrandomized, observational, academic and single-center study of 20 women being investigated because of subfertility and scheduled for a laparoscopy with chromopertubation. A detailed description of HyFoSy with a newly developed gel foam is given in the way it proved to be most efficient in our hands. The results of HyFoSy are compared to the data regarding tubal patency testing during laparoscopy by chromopertubation.

Results: All 20 HyFoSy were technically successful. Four of the 40 tubes, 1 right tube and 3 left tubes, were not patent at HyFoSy (3 tubes with proximal block and 1 tube with distal block). There was a 100% agreement between tubal patency data according to HyFoSy testing and laparoscopic chromopertubation testing.

Conclusion: HyFoSy is both feasible and accurate in the diagnosis of tubal patency.