Tubal
Cannulation is a procedure to help clear a blockage in the fallopian tubes. The
procedure is less invasive than fallopian tube surgery. Fallopian tube blockage
is a common cause of female infertility. As many as 1 in 4 women who have
difficulty getting pregnant have a blockage in the fallopian tubes.
Tubal
Cannulation can help open the fallopian tubes. It may also help your doctor
better understand why the blockage occurred. Sometimes, the procedure is used
to create scarring in the fallopian tubes in order to prevent pregnancy in
women who do not wish to have children. This is usually a permanent type of
birth control.
The doctor
inserts a tube called a catheter that is guided over a wire. Ultrasound or
real-time moving X-rays of the fallopian tubes may be used to guide your doctor
to the correct area. The blocked area in the fallopian tube is opened up using
a balloon on the catheter. Tubal Cannulation may be done immediately after a
procedure called selective salpingography. During this procedure, dye is first
flushed through the catheter to identify and locate a fallopian tube blockage.
Tubal
Cannulation may be done with or without anesthesia. You may be given a mild
sedative to calm your nerves and help you relax. It is usually an outpatient
procedure. That means a hospital stay is not needed and you will likely go home
the same day. The procedure can help your doctor more accurately diagnose and
treat a fallopian tube blockage. It may help you avoid more expensive and
invasive surgical procedures.
Is Tubal
Cannulation Right for Me?
Tubal
Cannulation should only be done if an imaging test clearly shows a blockage in
one or both fallopian tubes. The Cannulation procedure is most successful when
the blockage occurs in the part of the tube closest to the womb (uterus). This
type of blockage is called a proximal tubal obstruction.
Some doctors
recommend that women consider tubal Cannulation before having more expensive
fertility procedures, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Who Should Not
Have Tubal Cannulation?
Tubal
Cannulation may not be recommended if you have:
·
Extensive scarring in the fallopian tubes
(obliterative fibrosis).
·
Genital tuberculosis and certain other
infections.
·
Previous fallopian tube surgery.
·
Severe blockage that is difficult for a catheter
to pass through.
·
Severe damage to the fallopian tubes.
Tubal
Cannulation may fail or may not work as well if you have:
·
A blockage in a part of the fallopian tube far
away from the uterus (distal tubal obstruction).
·
Certain blockages in the narrowest part of the
fallopian tube, called the isthmus.
·
Inflammatory condition of the fallopian tubes
(salpingitis isthmica nodosa).
·
Severe tubal disease or scarring.
·
Tuberculosis.
Risks of Tubal Cannulation
Tubal
Cannulation should only be done by a doctor who is well-trained in the
procedure. Risks include:
·
Failure to restore fallopian tube function.
·
Tearing (perforation) of the fallopian tube
wall.
·
Peritonitis, a life-threatening infection of the
tissue covering your abdominal organs.
What to Expect After Tubal Cannulation
Tubal
Cannulation helps restore fertility in many, but not all, women. It is
important to remember that successfully reopening the fallopian tubes does not
always help a woman become pregnant. Pregnancy rates depend on the:
·
specific procedure performed
·
location of the blockage
·
cause of the blockage
Women with
severe fallopian tube disease who are not good candidates for tubal cannulation
may wish to consider IVF and embryo transfer.
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