Fertility outcome in laparoscopic single tube reanastomosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the fertility outcome in laparoscopic unilateral tubal reanastomosis.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective observational study. The medical records of all patients who underwent laparoscopic unilateral tubal reanastomosis from October 2003 to October 2010 at the Center for Advanced Endoscopy and Infertility Treatment, Paul's Hospital, Cochin, Kerala, India, were analyzed.

RESULTS: A total of 71 patients out of 81 could be followed up. Of those 71 women 39 (54.9%) conceived, and most of them within 1 year (36/39). Overall intra-uterine pregnancy rate was 52.11%. Thirty delivered a live infant (delivery rate 42.25%), 7 had abortions, 1 ectopic pregnancy was noted in the operated tube and 1 in the contralateral tube. Final tubal length of ≥ 5 cm showed statistically significant association with pregnancy rate (p = 0.0056). There was no significant difference in mean age, duration between sterilization and reanastomosis, or type of sterilization between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION: Though bilateral tubal reanastomosis is an ideal procedure, unilateral laparoscopic tubal reanastomosis gives an acceptable pregnancy rate. Unilateral laparoscopic reanastomosis is feasible in most of the cases, as most of the time only 1 tube is suitable for reanastomosis. Also, the surgical team can perform the unilateral procedure more efficiently, and the patient receives less anesthesia since the duration of surgery is shorter when compared to the bilateral procedure. Bilateral anastomosis is better when both tubes are accessible, especially in older women.