Transvaginal laparoscopy.

Abstract

Transvaginal laparoscopy (TvL) offers an alternative to standard diagnostic laparoscopy in subfertile patients without obvious pelvic pathology. With a specially developed needle-trocar system, access to the pouch of Douglas is gained through a needle puncture of the posterior fornix. Performed under local anaesthesia or sedation with the patient in a dorsal decubitus position and using prewarmed Ringer lactate as a distension medium, TvL allows complete exploration of the tubo-ovarian structures without supplementary manipulation. The combination of transvaginal sonography and transvaginal endoscopy, including minihysteroscopy, TvL, salpingoscopy and chromopertubation test, permits the most complete exploration of the reproductive tract and can be used as a first-line investigation of female fertility in a one-stop infertility clinic. As the transvaginal route offers easy access to the tubes, ovaries and fossa ovarica, some operative procedures are possible. However, in the absence of a panoramic view, these will be limited to minor interventions.