Accuracy of Hystro-Salpingo-Foam-Sonography (HYFOSY) as Tubal Patency Test in Comparison to Laparoscopy in Infertile Patients

Tubal patency testing is an essential part of female subfertility evaluation . Tubal abnormalities are seen in 30-40% of female subfertility patients . Laparoscopy with chromopertubation is considered to be the gold standard diagnostic procedure .

Laparoscopy is an invasive test, with a risk of intra-abdominal bleeding, visceral damage, and risks related to general anaesthesia.

Traditionally, Hysterosalpingography(HSG) is a less invasive less expensive first-step alternative, which has been used for decades with disadvantages such as radiation exposure, discomfort, or even abdominal pain.

Hysterosalpingo-Contrast Sonography (HyCoSy) was introduced as an alternative using either contrast media or saline. The accuracy of HyCoSy is comparable to that of HSG and LSC being reference standards for tubal patency testing.However, hyperechogenic contrast media such as Echovist_ (Schering AG, Berlin) and SonoVue_ (Bracco, Milan)are either no longer available or not licensed for tubal patency testing.

Hysterosalpingo-Foam Sonography (HyFoSy) was developed as an alternative for contrast HyCoSy and was introduced in 2010 as a first-line office tubal patency test.Foam is used in the HyFoSy technique to visualize the fallopian tubes and is created by rigorously mixing 5mlExEm_-gel (containing hydroxyethyl cellulose and glycerol,IQMedical Ventures BV, Rotterdam, TheNetherlands) with 5ml purified ExEm_-water.

The ExEm_-foam is sufficiently fluid to pass the fallopian tubes and in the mean time sufficiently stable to show echogenicity for at least five minutes, which is an advantage over saline. In a review on safety aspects and side effects of ExEm-gel it was considered to be appropriate and safe for tubal patency testing.

In 2017, HyLiFoSy combined with power Doppler (PD)(HyLiFoSy-PD) technique was described as a possibly less painful and easier to detect on ultrasound alternativeto HyFoSy and HyCoSy, which can be used whenever the contrast media used with both are either unavailable or is relatively expensive Ultrasound-based tubal patency tests include hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy), hysterosalpingo-foam sonography (HyFoSy), and hysterosalpingo-lidocaine-foam sonography (HyLiFoSy)and have shown a high detection rate of tubal obstruction and good reproducibility with concordances from 83.8 to 100% with HSG, and from 78.1 to96.91% with lap-and-dye test.

In addition, they allow for a single comprehensive assessment of the uterus and the fallopian tubes and it can be performed by the same specialist who indicates it, in the clinician's own office with it consequently being time efficient. Finally, some studies have shown an increase in the rate of post-procedure gestation.