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When Is Infertility Surgery Indicated?
E. Hayes and J. Rock
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
Summary
The role of reproductive surgery has been questioned in the current environment
of improving techniques and success rates with in vitro fertilization (IVF). Another
emerging obstacle is the declining number of these types of surgeries being performed in
response to the increasing numbers of patients opting for IVF. This phenomenon results
in fewer physicians who develop adequate proficiency in performing these technically
advanced procedures. In our tertiary referral center, we feel that with proper patient
selection infertility surgery is an excellent option that provides patients the potential to
achieve repeated future pregnancies.
Introduction
In the past, reconstructive tubal surgery was the only option for women with tubal factor
infertility that desired pregnancy. These procedures were performed through open
abdominal incisions sometimes without magnification. Today the majority of these
surgeries are performed either with open microsurgical technique or through evolving
laparoscopic techniques. With these advances providing improved pregnancy rates, lower
ectopic pregnancy rates and less risk and recovery time from surgery to the patient, the
decision to proceed with surgical correction of tubal factor infertility should be an easy
one.
On the contrary, this decision has become more complicated mainly due to the
tremendous advances in the field of IVF where pregnancy rates continue to improve as
complication rates decline. At this time, there are no randomized, controlled trials
comparing the outcome of infertility surgery and IVF to definitively lead us to a
conclusion. The added element of differing physician comfort levels with advanced
reproductive surgeries and in vitro fertilization also has a large impact on the final
decision.
Another important aspect of the decision making process in choosing a treatment
modality for a particular patient is the patients own wishes and expectations. With a more
informed and educated patient population this becomes a larger factor in the process.
Although this does not imply that a detailed consultation with the physician outlining all
options is not required, patients may arrive to this meeting with a plan already in mind.
Patients may also have monetary limitations or insurance requirements that make one
option more favorable.
After careful consideration of these variables, the next step in proceeding toward
a treatment plan is proper patient selection. The age of the patient, whether or not she is
spontaneously ovulatory and the type and severity of tubal disease as well as the possible
presence of multiple infertility factors need to be determined.
As part of the basic infertility evaluation, a crucial step is the
hysterosalpingogram that is performed after complete cessation of menses and prior to
ovulation in the menstrual cycle. The HSG can delineate proximal versus distal tubal
occlusion, degree of tubal dilatation, integrity of the rugae, presence of salpingitis
isthmica nodosa, and periadnexal adhesions.
With this information the physician can then decide if additional information is
required prior to commencing a final treatment plan. If this is the case, a diagnostic
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laparoscopy with chromopertubation may be warranted to directly visualize the pelvic
anatomy and possible pelvic adhesive disease or endometriosis. Once all necessary
information has been obtained an informed decision and appropriate treatment plan can
be formulated between patient and physician.
In this summary of the pertinent literature we attempt to provide evidence that
infertility surgery is an excellent option for many patients with tubal factor infertility as
well as discuss patients that would be better served by proceeding directly to in vitro
fertilization.
Materials and Methods
We performed a search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Pertinent articles were referenced.
Results
Periadnexal adhesive disease
Periadnexal adhesive disease may be a sole contributor to tubal factor infertility or may
exist in conjunction with fimbrial phimosis or tubal occlusion. Adhesions may also form
from a prior sterilization procedure, prior pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis.
Regardless of the etiology, adhesiolysis has been shown to significantly increase the
pregnancy rate.
It has been demonstrated that there is no difference in pregnancy rates between
adhesiolysis performed with the CO2 laser and that done with electrocautery.
Adhesiolysis can be effectively performed with either open microsurgical
technique or with laparoscopy with similar pregnancy rates. If an open procedure is the
chosen approach, there is an increased pregnancy rate and decreased rate of ectopic
pregnancies with use of magnification.
The overall intrauterine pregnancy rate after salpingoovariolysis is 51-62% and
the rate of ectopic pregnancy is 5-8%.
It is therefore preferable to use a laparoscopic approach as the procedure of choice
in this clinical scenario with laparotomy reserved for cases unable to be completed
laparoscopically. When laparotomy is required, microsurgical technique with
magnification should be employed.
Proximal tubal occlusion
Proximal tubal occlusion occurs in 10-25% of women with tubal factor infertility. The
majority is due to salpingitis isthmica nodosa, chronic salpingitis, intratubal
endometriosis, tubal spasm, or amorphous material.
There are currently no randomized controlled trials that compare selective tubal
cannulation procedures performed hysteroscopically or under fluoroscopic guidance to
surgery. In non-randomized studies similar intrauterine pregnancy rates have been found
in patients undergoing tubal cannulation and those who undergo microsurgical
tubocornual anastomosis. The intrauterine pregnancy rate is 33-56% and the ectopic
pregnancy rate is 5-7%.
Because of the minimally invasive nature of the procedure with similar outcome it is
preferential to attempt selective tubal cannulation under hysteroscopic or fluoroscopic
guidance first. If this is unsuccessful it would then be appropriate to proceed to
microsurgical tubocornual anastomosis.
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Patients with concomitant proximal and distal tubal occlusion should be considered
separately as they have an extremely poor prognosis with either type of procedure. These
patients with bipolar tubal disease should be counseled to proceed directly to IVF.
Fimbrial phimosis
Fimbrial phimosis, or agglutination of the fimbria of the fallopian tube, frequently occurs
simultaneously with periadnexal adhesions.
There is minimal data looking specifically at fimbrial phimosis as this data is often
pooled with salpingostomy data, however it has been demonstrated that intrauterine and
ectopic pregnancy rates are similar for laparoscopic and open microsurgical
fimbrioplasty. The intrauterine pregnancy rate is 40-48% and the ectopic pregnancy rate
is 5-6%.
The first choice for fimbrioplasty would be a laparoscopic approach as patient morbidity
and recovery time is minimized. This approach is also conducive to salpingoovariolysis,
which is frequently necessary. Open microsurgical fimbrioplasty should be reserved for
cases unable to be performed laparoscopically.
Distal tubal occlusion
When considering the patient with distal tubal occlusion for surgical treatment it is
imperative that patients are selected carefully. As previously stated, patients with bipolar
tubal disease are poor surgical candidates and achieve significantly better pregnancy rates
with IVF.
The next step in careful patient selection is determination of the severity of tubal disease.
Multiple studies have shown that prognosis is directly correlated to degree of tubal
damage. Tubal disease can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on the extent
of tubal dilatation, tubal wall thickness, rugal integrity, status of the fimbria, and degree
of adnexal adhesions.
Patients determined to have severe tubal disease have an overall intrauterine pregnancy
rate of only 16% after salpingostomy and should therefore be advised to proceed directly
to IVF. Data support salpingectomy in these patients with hydrosalpinges visible on
ultrasound prior to commencing the IVF cycle to improve implantation and pregnancy
rates.
In patients with mild or moderate tubal disease surgery is a viable option and this can be
performed with either an open microsurgical technique or a laparoscopic approach. Data
show that open microsurgery results in a slightly higher intrauterine pregnancy rate than
laparoscopy. It has also been shown that pregnancy rates in open procedures are
independent of the salpingostomy technique used.
Intrauterine pregnancy rates in patients with mild tubal disease are 80% and 31% in
moderate disease. Ectopic pregnancy rates are 5-18%.
The data support open microsurgical salpingostomy as the first line surgical approach for
patients with mild or moderate disease with laparoscopic salpingostomy showing slightly
reduced pregnancy rates.
Prior tubal sterilization
The success of surgical reversal of a prior tubal sterilization procedure is dependent on
several factors including the type of sterilization procedure performed, the site of tubal
anastomosis, and the length of the reconstructed fallopian tube. It is necessary that the
patient have at least 4cm of functional tube remaining preferably with at least 2cm in the
ampullary portion as well as intact fimbria.
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Tubal anastomosis may be performed with open microsurgical technique or by
laparoscopy with similar results provided the same meticulous surgical technique is
maintained. Physician preference plays a large role in this decision.
When open microsurgery is chosen, the intrauterine pregnancy rate is increased
and the ectopic pregnancy rate decreased with use of magnification. There has been no
significant difference in pregnancy rates demonstrated between magnification with
surgical loupes or the operating microscope. The overall intrauterine pregnancy rate is
60-80% and the ectopic pregnancy rate is 2-12.5%.
In patients who have undergone surgical sterilization by fimbriectomy, most data
support proceeding directly to in vitro fertilization, however more recent data suggest that
in the correct patient cohort surgery may be an option. Patients with a remaining tubal
length of >7cm may be candidates for salpingostomy with pregnancy rates approaching
30%.
Failure of the first reconstructive procedure
Patients in this category have extremely low success rates when additional infertility
surgical procedures are attempted. These patients should be advised to proceed to IVF.
Conclusions
The first step in determining if a patient is an appropriate candidate for infertility surgery
is thorough evaluation including a hysterosalpingogram to accurately diagnose the
anatomic location and severity of tubal disease. At this point, the physician may choose
to proceed with a diagnostic laparoscopy to directly view the pelvic anatomy.
When evaluation is complete, one must consider all other factors including patient age,
presence of spontaneous ovulation, presence of concomitant male factor infertility, as
well as the patient’s own wishes. If these factors dictate that the patient would be a poor
candidate for surgical intervention the patient should be counseled to proceed with IVF.
In the patient cohort found to be appropriate for surgery this is an excellent option.
Patients with pelvic adhesive disease should proceed first with laparoscopic
adhesiolysis, with laparotomy using microsurgical technique reserved for severe cases.
This can also be said for patients with fimbrial phimosis where laparoscopic
fimbrioplasty should be the first line therapy.
In the case of proximal tubal occlusion, selective tubal cannulation should be
attempted first with microsurgical tubocornual anastomosis reserved for failures. In distal
tubal occlusion, patients with mild or moderate disease should undergo open
microsurgical salpingostomy for best pregnancy rates. Patients with severe or bipolar
tubal disease should be advised to undergo IVF for best results.
Patients who have undergone prior tubal sterilization may undergo open
microsurgical or laparoscopic tubal anastomosis depending on physician preference if
they meet the anatomic criteria of at least 4cm of functional tube remaining. Patients with
prior fimbriectomy sterilization must have >7cm of tube remaining to be candidates for
salpingostomy.
In patients that have failed after their first reconstructive surgery, IVF should be
recommended.
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