The use of SonoVue for HyCoSy: UK experience to date

Abstract

Hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (HyCoSy) is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as the investigation of choice for otherwise asymptomatic women who need fallopian tube patency assessment as part of their investigation for subfertility. The technique requires the instillation of a positive contrast agent through the cervix, but after the commercial withdrawal of Echovist the only remaining agent, until very recently, was SonoVue, which is not licensed for intrafallopian use. A questionnaire was distributed to 16 units in the UK who were thought to perform HyCoSy in order to collate experience and opinion with this new contrast agent. Eight units replied to say that they had used SonoVue, giving a collective experience of 449 procedures. The opinion would seem to be that results are good and side-effects are rare, making the case to encourage a product licence application. Nevertheless, careful ongoing audit of results is essential and long-term endometrial effects need to be excluded.