A series of 30 microlaparoscopies performed under local anaesthesia and sedation are presented. The visualization of the pelvic organs was acceptable and the patients reported mild discomfort only. Microlaparoscopy may potentially replace macrolaparoscopy in selected cases.

Microlaparoscopes have been evaluated for minimally invasive laparoscopy using minimal anaesthesia or analgesia since our preliminary report on microlaparoscopy in 1993. This international multicentre report of safety and efficacy of diagnostic and operative microlaparoscopy was completed to evaluate the role of microlaparoscopy in a wide spectrum of gynaecological indications, diagnoses of pelvic and tubal disease, tubal occlusion and assisted reproduction. A total of 408 patients from seven centres around the world were included in this report. Of the 164 patients who underwent microlaparoscopy under local analgesia only three patients (1.8%) converted to i.v. sedation because of pain intolerance. All 71 patients who underwent microlaparoscopy under i.v. sedation as planned tolerated the procedure with acceptable pain level perception. Only one abdominal wall minor bleeding and one uterine wall minor bleeding were recorded in the remaining 173 patients who underwent microlaparoscopy under general anaesthesia. Visualization of the pelvic organs was sufficient in all 408 cases for diagnosis and treatment of selected pelvic pathology. We concluded, based on this sizeable microlaparoscopy series, that this outpatient procedure can replace large diameter laparoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of various pelvic conditions. Microlaparoscopy can safely replace large diameter laparoscopy in motivated patients who require minor operative procedures such as tubal occlusion, minor adhesiolysis, tubal gamete or embryo transfers and fulguration of endometriotic implants. This series demonstrated that operative microlaparoscopy can be carried out under general anaesthesia, reducing to nil the potential damage of a large diameter tracer. Future improvements in i.v. sedation in combination with i.p. local anaesthesia will potentially eliminate the need for general anaesthesia in some of the patients undergoing minor operative microlaparoscopy.

Introduction: Air bubble location following embryo transfer (ET) is the presumable placement spot of embryos. The purpose of this study was to document endometrial air bubble position and migration following embryo transfer.Design: Multicenter prospective case study. Materials and Methods: Eighty-eight embryo transfers were performed under abdominal ultrasound guidance in two countries by two authors. (EC, FR) A single or double air bubble was loaded with the embryos using a soft, coaxial, end opened catheters. The embryos were slowly injected 10-20 mm from the fundus. Air bubble position was recorded immediately, 30 minutes later and when the patient stood up.Results: Bubble marker location analysis revealed a random distribution without visible gravity effect when the patients stood up. The bubble markers demonstrated splitting, moving in all directions and dispersion.Conclusion: Air bubbles move and split frequently post ET with the patient in the horizontal position, suggestive of active uterine contractions. Bubble migration analysis supports a rather random movement of the bubbles and possibly the embryos. Standing up changed somewhat bubble configuration and distribution in the uterine cavity. Gravity related bubble motion was uncommon, suggesting that horizontal rest post ET may not be necessary. This report challenges the common belief that a very accurate ultrasound guided E. Confino ( ) ·

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval has gained universal acceptance with an excellent safety record overall. However, even with contemporary ultrasound resolution, the aspiration needle can injure adjacent pelvic organs and blood vessels and result in external and internal bleeding. Although the idea that Doppler ultrasound might reduce the risk of blood vessel injury during follicular aspiration seems to be plausable, measurement of peritoneal blood loss and the validity of this opinion has never been appropriately tested. Using a proposed classification method in an IVF programme, it was estimated that a significant peritoneal bleeding occurred in 56/898 (6%) of IVF patients. Although Doppler ultrasound was routinely used in all patients, it did not predict 24/53 (45%) of the patients with moderate peritoneal bleeding. In 8/53 cases (15%) with moderate peritoneal bleeding, vaginal bleeding was also detected and correctly predicted during oocyte aspiration using colour Doppler vaginal vessel imaging. Colour Doppler ultrasound guidance is an easily accessible technology with a theoretical promise to improve IVF safety and, with proper usage, has the potential to reduce haemorrhagic complications.

This is the first report of transcervical salpingoscopic visualization of tubal pregnancy in two patients. The falloposcope was introduced through a catheter used routinely for transcervical tubal cannulation, guided by tactile impression. We have previously demonstrated that it is possible to diagnose and treat tubal pregnancies via a transcervical intra-Fallopian cannula. Falloposcopy could help select appropriate patients for transcervical intra-Fallopian therapy by verifying the site of implantation and the characteristics of the ectopic pregnancy.