Basic Principles Of Tubal Reversal Surgery

By Karen Morris


The fallopian tubes form a vital part of the female reproductive system. It links the ovaries on either side to the uterus. Eggs released from the ovaries find their way to the fallopian tubes where they meet with sperms for fertilization. Tying the fallopian tubes bilaterally interferes with the natural conception process. Tubal reversal surgery is ideal for women whose tubes may have been tied accidentally or those who change their minds regarding this method of family planning.

Preoperative preparation entails taking a good history to be able to medically know the patient better. Simple things like the name, age, residence and whether they are married or not should not be assumed. Obstetric and gynecological history is also key. The patient should tell doctor how many deliveries they have had and whether they were done vaginally or through an operation. In addition, information regarding how many pregnancies have been lost is important. In light of this, the doctor striking and good rapport with the woman goes a long way in getting detailed medical information.

The doctor needs to do a focused physical examination to determine the stability of the patient for the planned operation. Certain investigations including blood tests and imaging studies are also required just as is the case with many other operations. The commonest imaging technique utilized is a pelvic ultrasound. A pelvic radiographic film with contrast enables the gynecologist to know the remaining size of oviducts and whether or not they can be modified to start working normally again.

Either laparoscopy or open operation is employed during this operation. Even though it has a high learning curve, , laparoscopy enjoys the advantage of being less invasive and shorter in duration. The operation unties the ligatures and join back the tubes. The patient is put under general anaesthesia to facilitate a painless procedure.

One of the common factors that may render the operation useless is age. Women below the age of forty stand a better chance of conceiving than those above. A history past pelvic operations causes and increase in adhesion formation which may end up clogging the tube again. Moreover, couples with other underlying issues with their fertility have very little chance of success in pregnancy if these are not sorted out.

Complications of ligation reversal surgery are bound to happen, just like in any other surgical procedure. During the intra operative period, the patient may bleed excessively. Apart from bleeding, damage to surrounding structures is also a possibility. Infection may come later on during the recovery period. Formation of scar tissue is another bother as it may result in tubes getting blocked again. The chances of getting ectopic pregnancies after reversal are very high.

Some of these complications can be minimized by observing certain measures including administration of prophylactic antibiotics and observing sterility when handling the internal environment of the body. In addition, blood tests should be done before the operation to ensure the hemoglobin levels are within normal to cater for blood loss during surgery.

In summary, it should be stated that tubal ligation is not necessarily permanent. It can be reversed by removing the rings or clips along the tube. Laparoscopy or open surgery are the two main surgical options. Age is a major contributory factor in the success of the intervention. Those above the age of forty stand a smaller chance of success.




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