The Fallopian tubes are a female reproductive organ that can become blocked. Fallopian Tube Recanalization (FTR) is a surgical procedure that can clear the fallopian tubes. It does not involve surgery.

What is meant by fallopian tubes?

The fallopian tubes are a key part of a woman’s fertility. The eggs move from the ovaries to the uterus through these tubes. In the process of conception,

• When the ovary sends out an egg, it goes down the fallopian tube.
• Sperm goes into the fallopian tubes to reach the egg and fertilize it.
• After fertilization, the embryo is well-nourished and moved to the uterus, when the journey of pregnancy begins.

Blockage of the fallopian tubes, typically caused by an accumulation of debris, is a common cause of infertility in women. Scars from surgery or a major infection can also sometimes cause a blockage. 

What are the symptoms that indicate the need for fallopian tube recanalization?

The fallopian tubes are an essential component of the female reproductive system. These parts make it possible for an egg to move from the ovaries to the uterus. If the fallopian tube is obstructed or blocked, the sperm cannot get into the egg because they have to go through the fallopian tube. Some signs that a fallopian tube is obstructed are,

• Difficulty in getting pregnant even after trying for a year.
• Persistent pelvic pain or just during periods
• Discomfort in the abdomen

If a fallopian tube is partly blocked, a fertilized egg may get stuck in the tube. It’s called an ectopic pregnancy. If the fertilized egg keeps growing in a fallopian tube, it can cause life-threatening problems.

What might be the reasons for fallopian tube blockage?

Blockages in the fallopian tubes can be caused by debris or scar tissue from a previous health issue. Some things that can cause the fallopian tubes to get blocked are,

• Ruptured appendix in the past
• An infection in the pelvic region
•  Sexually transmitted diseases
• Endometriosis

A fallopian tube can sometimes get bigger and gets filled with fluid. The name for this is hydrosalpinx. If you have this kind of blockage, you might feel pain or have a leak from your uterus. Your best gynecologist in Coimbatore uses the best technology available in Interventional Radiology to find out why the block is happening. Only when you have a clear diagnosis can you get the most effective care.

What are the different types of fallopian tube recanalization procedures recommended?

There are different types of fallopian tube recanalization procedures that are usually recommended based on the diagnostic results. 

Fallopian tube recanalization procedure (FTR):

If the fallopian tubes are closed, FTR can open them. There is no need for invasive surgery to remove fallopian tubes .

How is FTR performed?

Before the process, an intravenous (IV) line is put in so that drugs can be given if they are needed to help with pain or relaxation.  

The first part of the process is like a regular gynecological exam. The doctor will put a speculum in the vaginal opening, and then he or she will put a small tube through the cervix and into the uterus.

The doctor then gives the woman an injection of contrast. This lets the doctor see the uterus and fallopian tubes with fluoroscopy, which is a type of continuous x-ray. 

If the doctor finds a blockage, he or she will try to open it by putting a small, soft tube through it. 

The whole process usually only takes 30 minutes, patients can go home the same day, and they don’t need much or any time to heal.

This procedure is usually performed only in certain sets of patients.

Tubal Ligation Reversal Surgery:

With tubal ligation reversal surgery, you can try to undo a procedure where your fallopian tubes were cut or blocked to avoid pregnancy. It will let your eggs move through your tubes again by putting together the parts that were cut or stopped.

How is the procedure performed?

Your doctor will provide you anesthesia before the procedure. They will make a small cut in your stomach and take out any parts of your fallopian tubes that are closed. They will use stitches that dissolve to connect the tubes.

Salpingostomy:

Salpingostomy is when your doctor makes a hole in your fallopian tube. This is also called neosalpingostomy or fimbrioplasty. A hydrosalpinx is a swollen tube that is closed and filled with fluid.

What is involved in the salpingostomy procedure?

During the procedure, your fallopian tube will be opened, the obstruction will be removed, and the tube will be left in its natural position. They will leave the cut open so that it can heal itself.

Salpingectomy:

In contrast to the salpingostomy, which fixes a blocked fallopian tube but leaves the tube itself alone, the salpingectomy removes the tube. Your doctor might suggest that you get both tubes cut, it is called bilateral fallopian tubes salpingectomy, in such cases other ways like IVF and IUI may help you get pregnant.

How is the procedure performed?

Your doctor can do a laparoscopic salpingectomy in a few different ways. One way is to use a surgical loop that has already been made and tighten the knot around the fallopian tube. The blood veins in the fallopian tube could also be cut off.

What are the benefits of undergoing fallopian tube recanalization?

• Non-surgical technique that doesn’t need an incision.
• Same day surgery, with usually no long recovery period.
• No need of general anesthesia
• If fallopian tube blockage is the only cause of infertility, there’s a better chance of getting pregnant, and you might not need IVF.

Is fallopian tube recanalization procedure a successful procedure?

Interventional tubal recanalization, also called fallopian tube recanalization (FTR), is a very successful way to treat proximal tubal obstruction, with a technical success rate of up to 90%.

Who needs to undergo fallopian tube recanalization procedure?

If you have been told that your fallopian tube or if you have trouble getting pregnant in the past, you may need to undergo fallopian tube recanalization procedure. To know if you can undergo the procedure. You should talk to your doctor about any pelvic infections or other pelvic problems you have had in the past.

Can you get pregnant naturally after fallopian tube recanalization?

Usually fallopian tube recanalization procedure opens up the blockage in either or both of the fallopian tubes in most patients. In case the reason for infertility in a female is due to blocked fallopian tube, there 96% females get pregnant after fallopian tube recanalization procedure. 

If the female is facing any reason of infertility, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be the right choice to opt for to get pregnant. 

The outlook of fallopian tube recanalization:

Fallopian tube recanalization is a procedure that has about 99% success rate and most women with only fallopian tube blockage issue get pregnant in about a year’s time. Each type of fallopian tube recanalization procedure is recommended based on the fallopian tubal damage. It is important to note that if any woman is facing any other fertility issues along fallopian tube blockage, undergoing a fallopian tube recanalization procedure might not cure other infertility issues, it can only remove the blockage in fallopian tube. In case you are looking to undergo fallopian tube recanalization, visit a gynecology hospital in Coimbatore to explore various minimally invasive options.

The post What Are The Different Fallopian Tube Recanalization Procedures? appeared first on sriramakrishnahospital.