Role of Diagnostic Hysterolaparosopy in Evaluation of Female Infertility

Anusha Nanduri^*, Keshav G, Himaja V and Vishali P Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.E.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India
^*Correspondence: Anusha Nanduri, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.E.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India, Email:

Received: Mar 07, 2023, Manuscript No. JEBMH-23-91057; Editor assigned: Mar 09, 2023, Pre QC No. JEBMH-23-91057 (PQ); Reviewed: Mar 23, 2023, QC No. JEBMH-23-91057; Revised: May 18, 2023, Manuscript No. JEBMH-23-91057 (R); Published: May 26, 2023, DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2023/1/03/74

Citation: Nanduri A, Keshav G, Himaja V, et al. Role of Diagnostic Hysterolaparosopy in Evaluation of Female Infertility. J Evid Based Med Healthc 2023;10(3):74.

Keywords

Hysteroscopy, Laparoscopy, Infertility, Abnormalities, Obstetrics and gynecology

Introduction

In India approximately 15%–20% of couples are affected by infertility.¹ Infertility is defined as the failure of a couple to conceive after 1 year of unprotected sexual intercourse in women <35 years of age, and after 6 months of unprotected sexual intercourse in women >35 years of age. Primary infertility is the inability to conceive in a couple who had no prior pregnancies. Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive in a couple who has had at least one prior conception, which may have ended in a live birth, still birth, miscarriage, induced abortion or ectopic pregnancy. Male factor infertility constitutes 45% and female factors constitute the rest 55% cases, out of which ovulation disorders (37%) and tubal factors were (18%).² A combination of several factors is found in approximately 20% of all couples. For normal human fertility, morphology of the uterus has to be normal and patent fallopian tubes are needed. The gold standard for diagnosis of tubal and peritoneal diseases is laparoscopy. Compared to hysterosalpingography and ultrasonography, it has the advantage of direct visualization of the pelvic organs and the peri tubal state, which provides more information.^3,4 It is well recognized that Hysterolaparosopy is particularly effective at identifying, uterine, and tubal causes of female infertility.⁵ In the same sitting issues of tubal morphology and patency, ovarian morphology, suspected pelvic disease, anomalies of the uterine cavity and also therapeutic procedures can be done. Hence, Hysterolaparosopy is efficient in examination and to simultaneously diagnose and treat pelvic pathologies leading to infertility.

Materials and Methods

The Study Design

Retrospective study.

Study Location

Department of obstetrics and gynecology, PES institute of medical sciences and research, Kuppam.

Study Duration

June 2021 to December 2022.

Sample Size

80 patients.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients with Infertility as the chief complaint.

Exclusion Criteria

Active pelvic inflammatory disease. Medical disorders which are contraindicated for anesthesia.

Procedure

The present study was retrospective study conducted from June 2021 to December 2022 with infertility being the chief complaint. Male factors for infertility were ruled out. Ultrasound and basic investigations were done. All the patients were kept nil orally after 10 pm the day before surgery. After taking written and informed consent, Laparoscopy was performed during the post-menstrual phase on 7^th, 8^th and 9^th day of cycle under regional/general anesthesia. Patient positioning: The patient is placed in lithotomy position with head end of the patient. Slightly lowered (Trendelenburg 15°-30°). The hysteroscopy was introduced into the cervical canal under vision. The uterine cavity was distended with 0.9% normal saline and examined. Creation of pneumoperitoneum: Veeres needle is introduced through supra umbilical port and abdominal cavity is distended with gas (CO, is commonly used). Trocar and cannula were inserted via the supra umbilical port. Introduction of laparoscope: Laparoscope connected to the light source, and camera unit is introduced via the port; the findings are noted and visualized on the monitor. Creation of accessory port: Accessory port was created for operative procedures. Pelvic organs were examined and then whole peritoneal cavity was examined. After the procedure, patient was transferred to postoperative ward and was discharged next day.

Statistical Analysis

The data was entered into MS excel 2007 version and analyzed using SPSS version 21.

Results

The study included 80 patients. 65 cases were of primary infertility and the remaining 15 cases were of secondary infertility. Majority of primary infertile cases were in the age group of 21-25 years (31.25%) and that of secondary infertile cases were in the age group of 26-30 years (10 %) (Tables 1 and 2).

Table 1: Age Distribution Among the Study Population.

Table 2: Types of Infertility in the Study Population.

Among the study population, majority cases were of primary infertility (81.25 %) and the remaining cases were of secondary infertility (18.75 %) (Figure 1 and Table 3).

Table 3: Causes of Infertility among the Study Participants.

Among the study participants 32 (40%) had normal hysteron laparoscopic findings. Among the causes leading to infertility, majority cases had tubal pathology (22.5%), followed by ovarian (15%) and uterine causes (12.5%) and least being pelvic pathology (10 %) (Figure 2 and Table 4).

Table 4: Hystero Laparoscopic Findings.

Among the study participants, majority had normal laparoscopy findings (40 %). The majority causes of infertility were the tubal causes (22.5 %), with majority leading to primary infertility (Table 5).

Table 5: Uterine Causes.

Among the study participants 4 cases had fibroid uterus, 3 cases had septate uterus, 2 cases had arcuate uterus and 1 case had bicorn ate uterus (Table 6).

Table 6: Tubal Patency (Chromopertubation Test).

Among the study participants bilateral spillage was seen in 57 cases, unilateral spillage in 15 cases, delayed spillage in 3 cases and no spillage in 5 cases (Table 7).

Table 7: Therapeutic Procedures for Enhancing Fertility.

Among the study participants 6 cases had polycystic ovarian drilling, 4 cases had cystectomy, 3 cases had septal resection, and 1 case had polypectomy (Table 8).

Table 8: Complications.

Among the study participants the complications observed were post procedure bleeding in 6 cases and gaseous distention of abdomen and wound gaping in 1 case each.

Discussion

This is a retrospective study conducted on 80 cases of infertile women who attended OPD and were admitted in Department of OBG, PESIMSR, and Kuppam for evaluation of infertility during the period of 18 Months from June 2021 to December 2022. The data was tabulated and analyzed in detail and the same was compared with statistics of various other studies. With the wide spread use of minimally invasive techniques, laparoscopy has become gold standard in evaluation of female infertility.⁷ In our study of 80 cases who underwent laparoscopy 65 cases (81.25%) had primary infertility and 15 cases (18.75%) had secondary infertility, which was similar to Qurat–ul-Ain W, et al.⁸ study which was conducted on 100 infertile women in Delhi, in which 82% cases were of primary infertility and the remaining 18% cases were of secondary infertility. The commonest age group of presentation among primary infertile cases was 21-25 years with 25 cases (31.25%) and among secondary infertile cases was 26-30 years with 8 cases (10%), which was comparable to a retrospective study conducted at Bangalore on 50 infertile patients by Chaitra Krishna, et al.⁹ where the age at presentation was 21-25 years in primary infertility and 26-30 years in secondary infertility. Normal laparoscopic findings were seen in 32 (40%) cases out of total 80 cases which is comparable with a retrospective study conducted on 546 patients who underwent hystero laparoscopy in Indore, MP by Bhandari S, et al.¹⁰ where 95 (47.9%) patients of 198 patients had normal findings. In the study population Tubo ovarian causes were major contributing factors for infertility which was comparable to studies conducted by Kiridi EK et al.¹¹ and Omidiji OA, et al.¹² In the study population, the frequency of abnormal tubal spill on chromopertubation with secondary infertility were seen in 5 cases (7.25%) in comparison with primary infertility were seen in 18 cases (22.5%) and were found similar to that in a prospective study by Chaitra Krishna et al. where 33.3% patients in secondary and 28.5% patients in primary infertility had abnormal tubal spill. Hystero laparoscopy with chromopertubation is definitely superior in diagnosis of various kinds of tubal pathologies. In the present study, uterine abnormalities constituted 12.5% of all the women presenting with infertility. According to a study by MI Khan et al. uterine anomalies constitute 10% in infertile women. The most common uterine anomaly in our study is a septate uterus which is similar to Huma Nishat, et al. study.^13,14 A total of 14 therapeutic procedures were performed in the study participants, the most commonly performed procedure was, PCO drilling in 7.5 % cases, ovarian cystectomy in 5% cases, septal resection and polypectomy comparable with a prospective study conducted in Ludhiana by Puri Set, et al. with ovarian cystectomy in 4% cases.

Conclusion

Diagnostic hysterolaparosopy is a gold standard procedure in
evaluation and management of pelvic pathologies leading to infertility. In the same session, there is also a chance to treat the identified pathology in the uterus, tubes, ovaries, or peritoneum, reducing the need for a second procedure and allowing for better planning of follow up care.

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