Intraoperative Three-Dimensional Transvaginal Ultrasound for Hysteroscopic Metroplasty: a Controlled Study

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the role of intraoperative transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) during hysteroscopic metroplasty. This is a prospective cohort of consecutive patients with septate uterus undergoing hysteroscopic metroplasty with intraoperative transvaginal 3DUS guidance compared to a historical control group of patients undergoing hysteroscopic metroplasty without 3DUS. We conducted our research in a tertiary care university hospital in Rome, Italy. This study involved nineteen patients undergoing 3DUS-guided hysteroscopic metroplasty for recurrent abortion or infertility compared to 19 age-matched controls undergoing metroplasty without 3DUS guidance. During hysteroscopic metroplasty, 3DUS was performed in the study group when the operator considered the procedure to be completed, according to standards of operative hysteroscopy. If 3DUS diagnosed a residual septum, the procedure was continued until a 3DUS diagnosis of a normal fundus was obtained. The patients were followed with a 3DUS performed 3 months after the procedure. The numbers of complete resections (residual septum absent), suboptimal resections (measurable residual septum of less than 10 mm), and incomplete resections (residual septum > 10 mm) in the intraoperative 3DUS group were compared to the numbers in the control group with no intraoperative 3DUS. At follow-up, measurable residual septa were obtained in 0% of the patients in the 3DUS-guided group versus 26% in the control group (p = 0.04). Residual septa of > 10 mm were obtained in 0% of the 3DUS group versus 10.5% in the control group (p = 0.48). Intraoperative 3DUS reduces the incidence of suboptimal septal resections at hysteroscopic metroplasty.