Early ultrasound-guided drainage of tubo-ovarian abscesses versus conservative treatment: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the short and long-term benefits (the length of hospital stay, surgical complications, and early clinical improvement) of adding early ultrasound-guided drainage to broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment. METHODOLOGY: Patients undergoing tubo-ovarian abscess treatment between January 2017 and June 2022 in a tertiary hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Of the patients studied, 50 subjects were treated with antibiotics alone and 63 underwent guided drainage. Twenty-one individuals underwent early drainage within 72 hours of admission, and 42 underwent guided drainage after this period. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the length of hospital stay between the groups simultaneously, averaging 6.4 days for the controls, 5.1 days for the early drainage group, and 9.6 days for the late drainage group (p = 0.290). In the multiple linear regression with the length of hospital stay outcome and adjusting for potential confounding factors, there was an average reduction of 2.9 days in the hospital stay (p = 0.04) for the early drainage group (< 72 hours) compared to the controls. Early clinical improvement and an expected drop in CRP were more frequent in patients who underwent drainage. Length of hospital stay increases with abscess diameter: 0.4 [(95% CI 0.1 - 0.7) (p = 0.05)] days per centimeter, regardless of other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided drainage of tubo-ovarian abscesses associated with antibiotic therapy is an effective treatment, with few complications, and may lead to clinical improvement especially when performed early.

Diagnostic accuracy of pelvis multiparametric MRI against CT virtual hysterosalpingography: a prospective study of tubal patency through female infertility assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI-hysterosalpingogram (HSG) with semiquantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion, against the virtual multislice CT hysterosalpingogram (VHSG) as a reference standard. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this prospective study, 26 women (age >18 years) searching for infertility causes and with VHSG physician request. Thereafter, the assessment performance of both techniques was determined by two reader analyses. k statistics were used for the assessment of tubal patency. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to compare the capability for tubal patency assessment between both exams on a per-patient and per-tube basis. The McNemar test was used to compare the diagnostic accuracy measures. RESULTS: Tubal patency, uterine morphological, ovarian, and extrauterine abnormalities were evaluated through both exams in all 26 women. There was no significant difference between diagnostic performance measurements between the methods. The ROC curve of VHSG was 0.852 for both per-patient and per-tube analyses, and one and 0.938 for MRI-HSG. Sensitivity and specificity for per-patient and per-tube for VHSG were 95.2 and 97.7, 80 and 87.5%, and for MRI-HSG 100% for both analyses and 100 and 87.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of diagnosing tubal patency through MRI, using a semi-quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion sequence, and the satisfactory diagnosing of the uterine morphology, ovarian abnormalities, and ovarian and deep endometriosis. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Multiparametric MRI with a perfusion real-time sequence as a HSG method can be used in the evaluation not only for uterine and ovarian abnormilities but also tubal patency.

Influence of a mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphism and exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis on fallopian tube obstruction in Brazilian woman.

PURPOSE: Factors influencing fallopian tube occlusion in women with a lower genital tract infection remain incompletely elucidated. We evaluated whether a polymorphism in the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene at codon 54 influences the occurrence of fallopian tube blockage in relation to exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis. METHODS: In a case-control study at The Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 75 women with hysterosalpingography-documented tubal occlusion and 75 women with patent fallopian tubes were analyzed for detection of single-nucleotide polymorphism in codon 54 of the MBL gene and for IgG anti-C. trachomatis antibodies in their sera. Both groups were matched for age, race, and sexual variables. RESULTS: Prior exposure to C. trachomatis, as evidenced by the presence of IgG antibodies, was comparable in both groups. Detection of the polymorphic MBL allele was more prevalent in women with blocked tubes (p < 0.01), regardless of whether or not there was evidence of prior chlamydial exposure. CONCLUSION: The level of MBL-related innate immunity influences the consequences of infection by C. trachomatis or other microbes.

Pyosalpinx and hydrosalpinx in virginal adolescents: report of two cases / Piosálpinx e hidrosálpinx en adolescentes vírgenes: reporte de dos casos

Pyosalpinx and hydrosalpinx are conditions mainly seen in adult women, but also among sexually active adolescents and can bring added hazard to fertility. However, these conditions are very rare in childhood, as well as in adolescent girls who are not sexually active. We are presenting two rare cases of young girls in early puberty with hydrosalpinx and pyosalpinx. Both girls had a history of abdominopelvic surgery in childhood for congenital bowel anomalies and fecal incontinence. Such cases are good reminders that girls with known abdominopelvic anomalies and surgical procedures in childhood need long term followup, in particular when entering puberty and maturation. The two cases show how fallopian tubes can be indirectly affected and present in adolescence with serious problems needing surgical procedures and potentially threatening future reproductive system performances.

El piosálpinx y el hidrosálpinx son condiciones vistas principalmente en mujeres adultas, pero también entre las adolescentes sexualmente activas, y pueden acarrear riesgos a la fertilidad. Sin embargo, estas condiciones son muy raras en la infancia, así como en las niñas adolescentes que no están sexualmente activas. Presentamos dos casos raros de jovencitas en la pubertad temprana con hidrosálpinx y piosálpinx. Ambas adolescentes tenían antecedentes de cirugía abdominopélvica en la infancia a causa de anomalías congénitas del intestino e incontinencia fecal. Tales casos son buenos recordatorios de que las muchachas con anomalías y procedimientos quirúrgicos abdominopélvicos en la niñez, necesitan seguimiento a largo plazo, en particular al entrar en la pubertad y la madurez. Los dos casos muestran cómo las trompas de Falopio pueden ser indirectamente afectadas, y presentarse en la adolescencia con graves problemas que necesitan procedimientos quirúrgicos y operaciones que constituyen una amenaza potencial al sistema reproductor.

Virtual hysterosalpingography: experience with over 1000 consecutive patients.

With the advent of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), a whole new spectrum of diagnostic imaging techniques and procedures appears. Virtual hysterosalpingography (VHSG) is a novel non-invasive modality for assessing the uterus and female reproductive system that combines hysterosalpingography technique with MDCT technologies. Nowadays, 64-row VHSG offers an excellent diagnostic performance, in concordance with the development of new reproductive interventions and the need of accurate diagnostic procedures. In this article, we review the VHSG technique and describe normal and pathologic findings.

Virtual hysterosalpingography: a new multidetector CT technique for evaluating the female reproductive system.

Recent advances in reproductive medicine have generated a demand for more accurate imaging methods for identifying the specific cause of female infertility and other gynecologic disorders. Virtual hysterosalpingography is an emerging modality in which aspects of the established technique of hysterosalpingography are combined with the cutting-edge technology of multidetector computed tomography (CT) to allow a comprehensive and highly accurate evaluation of both the female reproductive system and the pelvic anatomy generally. Unlike ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, multidetector CT is capable of depicting both the external and internal surfaces of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic organs, providing high-resolution data that are suitable for two- and three-dimensional reconstructions and virtual endoscopic views. Thus, virtual hysterosalpingography may prove to be superior to other noninvasive modalities for evaluating tubal patency. Moreover, in comparison with conventional hysterosalpingography, which may involve cervical clamping, virtual hysterosalpingography is painless. Because of the health risks associated with ionizing radiation, the use of another modality (eg, MR imaging, US) may be preferred if the presence of a focal uterine lesion is strongly suspected. However, virtual hysterosalpingography with multidetector CT may provide a diagnostic advantage in complex cases.

Tubal patency following surgical and clinical treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: As there is little information about fertility outcomes among women following clinical treatment (methotrexate and expectant management) and surgery (salpingectomy) consequent to ectopic pregnancy, we evaluate the results from hysterosalpingography subsequent to treatment. The objective was to evaluate contralateral tubal patency using hysterosalpingography following surgery and clinical treatment of tubal pregnancy. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a prospective study at the Department of Obstetrics of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, a tertiary center. METHOD: Among 115 patients who underwent hysterosalpingography following surgery and clinical treatment of tubal pregnancy between April 1994 and February 2002, 30 were treated with a single intramuscular dose of methotrexate (50 mg/m(2)), 50 were followed up expectantly and 35 underwent salpingectomy. RESULTS: The patency of the ipsilateral tube was 84% after methotrexate treatment and 78% after expectant management. In addition, contralateral tubal patency was 97% after methotrexate treatment, 92% after expectant management and 83% after salpingectomy. There were no statistically significant differences between the clinical treatment and surgery groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest similar contralateral tubal patency rates following salpingectomy, methotrexate treatment and expectant management.

Values of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin as a risk factor for tubal obstruction after tubal pregnancy.

AIM: The hysterosalpingography (HSG) was evaluated after the clinical treatment of tubal pregnancy and the possible risk of tubal obstruction through the following parameters: beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels, size of the adnexal mass, aspects of the image at ultrasound, and color Doppler. METHODS: Eighty patients were submitted to HSG after tubal pregnancy treatment from April 1994 to February 2002. Fifty received expectant management and 30 were treated with single-dose methotrexate (MTX) (50 mg/m(2) intramuscularly). RESULTS: The patency of the ipsilateral tube was 84% and 78% after the MTX and expectant treatments, respectively (P > 0.05). After the logistic regression was performed, it was observed that levels of beta-hCG >5000 mUI/ml were directly related to the tubal obstruction risk, odds ratio = 11.79 (95% CI = 2.27-61.32). Other variables were not directly related to the tubal obstruction risk. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the probability of ipsilateral tubal obstruction depends on the beta-hCG levels. The increase in beta-hCG levels is followed by an enhancement in tubal obstruction risk. Therefore, the beta-hCG may be effective for the prognostic of the reproductive future of these patients.

Masas extraováricas en proyección anexial / Extraovarian masses in US adnexial region

Propósito: Presentar nuestra experiencia en la evaluación con ecografía transvaginal de los procesos anexiales extraováricos, su caracterización e incidencia en relación con el total de las masas anexiales estudiadas, atendiendo a características particulares de las mismas que permitan efectuar un diagnóstico presuntivo de localización extraovárica. Material y métodos: Se revisaron las historias clínicas pertenecientes a 200 pacientes derivadas a nuestro servicio para ser evaluadas con Doppler color, tras haberse diagnosticado una masa anexial en un estudio previo (un total de 221 masas anexiales). Los exámenes fueron efectuados entre marzo de 1998 y diciembre de 2000. No se incluyeron pacientes con síntomas de patología abdominopelviana aguda. Presentaron confirmación arteriográfica 1 y anatomopatológica 103 masas anexiales (95 pacientes) y se revisaron retrospectivamente las características ultrasonográficas de aquéllas de origen extraovárico. Los exámenes fueron realizados en un ecográfo ATLHDI Ultramark 9 (Botthel Wash), con transductor endocavitario de 5-9 MHz. Resultados: El 21,2 por ciento (22/104) del total de las masas anexiales fueron de origen extraovárico: quistes paratubarios (n=8), miomas subserosos (n=8), hidrosálpinx (n=3), origen intestinal (n=2), malformación venosa parauterina (n=1). Conclusión: En nuestra experiencia, la ecografía transvaginal fue de utilidad en el diagnóstico presuntivo de procesos anexiales extraováricos, en los casos de origen tubario (hidrosálpinx) o uterino (miomas), considerando las características morfológicas y la localización de la lesión. Sin embrago, cuando se trató de procesos paratubarios o intestinales, no fue posible sospechar su origen extraovárico (AU)

Selective salpingography with an insemination catheter in the treatment of women with cornual fallopian tube obstruction.

The effectiveness of selective tubal cannulation using a simple and inexpensive tubal insemination catheter was evaluated in 23 infertile patients with cornual obstruction demonstrated by hysterosalpingography. Selective fluoroscopic tubal catheterization was accomplished in 95% of the patients with resulting tubal patency in 70% of the procedures (28 recanalizations out of 40 Fallopian tubes). Eight patients (34.8%, eight out of 23) became pregnant, six went on to full-term deliveries and two experienced spontaneous first-trimester abortions. One women conceived twice, and delivered a singleton pregnancy after the first recanalization and a twin gestation after the second salpingography. No complications were reported. The results of this study emphasize the ease, cost effectiveness and safety of this method, encouraging its use in patients with cornual Fallopian tube obstruction either as the sole therapeutic approach or in association with other assisted conception treatment alternatives.

Fallopian tube recanalization in an unrestricted patient population.

PURPOSE: To review the effectiveness of fallopian tube recanalization (FTR) when performed without restriction based on history or tubal condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 1989 to July 1992 in 37 consecutive women, aged 22-44 years (mean, 35 years), 42 FTRs were performed (five patients each underwent two FTRs). Water-soluble contrast material and selective ostial salpingography and/or microcatheter technique were used exclusively. Eighty tubes were evaluated, since four patients had previously undergone unilateral salpingectomy. Sixty-three tubes (79%) were occluded at the outset of the procedure. RESULTS: Complete recanalization was achieved in 45 of 63 (71%) occlusions. Adhesions were present in 25 of 80 (31%) tubes, salpingitis isthmica nodosa in 12 (15%), and hydrosalpinx in nine (11%). The 42 procedures resulted in 14 (33%) conceptions, nine (64%) of which involved pathologic tubes. Eleven intrauterine pregnancies resulted in five spontaneous first-trimester abortions, five full-term deliveries, and one continuing pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Favorable conception and live birth rates can be achieved with FTR, despite a high prevalence of tubal disease.

[Color Doppler hysterosalpingography. Preliminary experience]. / Histerosalpingografía mediante Doppler color. Experiencia preliminar.

Tubal factor accounts for approximately 25% of the causes of infertility. The diagnosis has been made with x ray hysterosalpingography or laparoscopy chromoperfusion. We presents the utilization of ultrasonographic color Doppler flow used to perform hysterosalpingography to asses tubal patency.