[Comparative study on assessment of tubal patency among tubal insufflation, hydrotubation, hysterosalpingography and chromotubation under laparoscopy].

OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic value of tubal insufflation, hydrotubation, hysterosalpingography (HSG) and chromotubation under laparoscopy for tubal patency assessment. METHODS: Among 258 women who underwent chromofubation during laparoscopy procedures for infertility assessment in our hospital, tubal insufflation were performed in 42 cases, hydrotubation in 70, HSG in 63, both insufflation and hydrotubation in 20, insufflation and HSG in 11, and hydrotubation and HSG in 22. The accuracy of each method was compared with that of chromotubation under laparoscopy. RESULTS: The accuracy rates of hydrotubation (87.1%) and HSG (73.0%) were significantly higher than that of insufflation (50.0%) (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 respectively). Similar results were shown when 2 different procedures in the same patient were compared with laparoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Tubal insufflation has no longer its place in tubal patency assessment due to its grossly inaccuracy; Both hydrotubation and HSG can be used as screening methods. Laparoscopy is the most accurate procedure in assessing tubal patency, as well as in searching pelvic abnormalities.