Uterine rupture after balloon inflation of the intrauterine Foley catheter during laparoscopic chromopertubation

Summary Laparoscopic chromopertubation is considered “gold standard” for checking the tubal patency. Foley catheter is frequently used for blue dye during chromopertubation. Complications associated with the intra-uterine use of Foley catheter are infrequent. The mean normal capacity of the uterine cavity is about 9 ml, and an inflation of up to 30 ml (e. g. during thermal balloon ablation procedures) is considered safe. We report a uterine rupture in a 36-year-old woman undergoing laparoscopic chromopertubation due to primary infertility. Thirteen years ago, the patient had three consecutive laparotomies because of appendicitis, peritonitis and retroperitoneal abscess. For the present laparoscopy, the Foley catheter (Nelaton, charier 10, balloon 5 ml) was used. The first blocking of the balloon with 3.5 ml saline was insufficient; however after inflating with 5 ml, a rupture of the uterine fundus occurred. The balloon remained intact and both tubes appeared patent. The myometrium was sutured and the postoperative course was uneventful. We presume that—in the present case—the expansive capacity of the uterine wall may have been reduced after the series of severe pelvic inflammations. Nevertheless, if using a Foley catheter for the chromopertubation, the optimal pressure for its intrauterine fixation needs still to be determined.