Tubal Reversal by Tubouterine Anastomosis
Tubal Anastomosis at the Uterine Cornua
Tubouterine anastomosis is a tubal reversal procedure that is intermediate between tubotubal anastomosis and tubouterine implantation. It is also called cornual anastomosis because the tube is joined to the cornual area of the uterus with this operation. The cornu is the area where the fallopian tube normally emerges from the the uterus.
When Is Tubouterine Anastomosis Performed?
Tubouterine anastomosis is performed when there is a healthy tubal segment near the ovary, but no segment remains attached to the uterus, following a tubal ligation procedure. It is also performed when a tubal segment attached to the uterus is scarred and has no open lumen.
An incision is made into the uterus at the cornu to find the opening of the fallopian tube tube as it passes through the uterine muscle. If an opening is found, the tubal segment that remains is rejoined to the uterus at this site.
Case Histories
The topic of tubouterine anastomosis is a timely one. During the past week, 2 patients undergoing tubal reversal surgery at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center required this operative procedure. In one case, each fallopian tube had been coagulated or burned next to the uterine cornu, leaving no segment attached to the uterus. The other patient had developed the condition known as salpingitis isthmica nodosa in the portion of the fallopian tube between the uterus and the a Falope ring. In both cases, tubal reversal was able to performed with the technique of tubouterine anastomosis.
Dr. Berger’s Comment
Frequently, patients have been informed by doctors who are not specialists in tubal ligation reversal that their fallopian tubes cannot be repaired after a tubal ligation. This is especially true when the proximal segments of the fallopian tubes are missing or diseased. But there are a variety of surgical techniques that can be used during tubal reversal surgery by a doctor who is an experienced tubal reversal surgeon. This is one of the advantages patients have when they come to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center for their tubal reversal procedures.
January 21st, 2009 at 9:03 am
Hi Diane.
In most cases, pregnancy rates following a ligation, resection and cautery procedure and subsequent reversal surgery are high. The damage that is done to the tubes at the time of the sterilization does not worsen over time, so the length of time since the tubal ligation does not specifically affect pregnancy rates. I am happy to discuss the process in more detail with you. Feel free to email me at ErickaP@tubal-reversal.net.
January 21st, 2009 at 8:49 am
i would love to have a tubal reversal, it has been 13 years is it still possible, they were tied cut and burned?
January 31st, 2008 at 3:59 pm
[...] Berger’s Tubal Reversal Blog « History of Tubal Reversal Surgery Tubal Reversal by Tubouterine Anastomosis [...]
January 14th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
One of the beneficial aspects of reading and understanding the information that Dr. Berger has on his website and his blogs, is the beautiful accompaning illustrations. It is so easy to read about certain procedures and be able to visualize the anatomy from the illustrations. Dr. Berger gives his patients the opportunity to understand women’s reproductive systems in order to learn and to make informative decisions.
December 26th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
I think that it is great to know that there is hope for women who have previously been told that tubal reversal surgery was not an option for them. Dr. Berger is able to repair the tubes in 98% of the cases and is able to perform the reversal procedure on patients that have had the various types of tubal ligation. This is one of the benefits of a physician who is dedicated to performing only tubal reversal surgery. Dr. Berger’s experience and dedication allows him to perform reversal surgery when other physicians can not.