Robotically assisted laparoscopic microsurgical tubal reanastomosis: a retrospective study

Objective: To evaluate the pregnancy and delivery outcome of robot-assisted tubal reanastomosis. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): Ninety-seven patients with available follow-up who underwent the reversal of tubal ligation, with a median age of 37 years (range, 24-47 years). Intervention(s): Tubal reanastomosis by robot-assisted laparoscopy. Main Outcome Measure(s): Analysis of the distribution of time to conception and to estimate the crude pregnancy and birth rates at 2 years. Result(s): The overall pregnancy and birth rates were 71%, (95% confidence interval [CI], 61%-80%) and 62% (95% CI, 52%-72%). Ninety-one percent (95% CI, 76%-98%) of patients <35 years old became pregnant, and 88% (95% CI, 72%-97%) delivered at least once. The corresponding pregnancy and delivery rates were 75% (95% CI, 57%-89%) and 66% (95% CI, 47%-81%) between 36 and 39 years old, 50% (95% CI, 25%-75%) and 43.8% (95% CI, 20%-70%) between 40 and 42 years old, 33% (95% CI, 10%-65%) and 8.3% (95% CI, <1%-38%) after the age of 43 years. Conclusion(s): This study reports satisfactory birth rates after tubal reanastomosis by robot-assisted laparoscopy in patients aged 40 years or less. (Fertil Steril (R) 2010;94:1844-7. (C)2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)