Results of centralized Asherman surgery, 2003-2013

Abstract

Objective To study the success rate of hysteroscopic adhesiolysis and the spontaneous recurrence rate of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) in patients with Asherman syndrome. Design Cohort study. Setting University-affiliated hospitals. Patient(s) A total of 638 women with Asherman syndrome were included, all diagnosed using hysteroscopy, and operated on between 2003 and 2013. Intervention(s) Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. Main Outcome Measure(s) Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis was classified as successful if a normalization of menstrual blood flow occurred, along with a restored, healthy, cavity anatomy, free of adhesions, with hysteroscopic visualization of ≥1 tubal ostium. Recurrences of adhesions were diagnosed using hysteroscopy after an initial successful procedure. Result(s) A first-trimester procedure preceded Asherman syndrome in 371 women (58.2%) and caused adhesions of grades 1-2A. In 243 (38.1%) women, a postpartum procedure caused IUAs of grades 3-5. The procedure was successful in 606 women (95%), and restoration of menstrual blood flow occurred in 97.8%; IUAs spontaneously recurred in 174 (27.3%) of these cases. High grades of adhesions were predictive of a higher chance of spontaneous recurrence of adhesions. Conclusion(s) In 95% of women with Asherman syndrome, a healthy uterine cavity was restored with hysteroscopic adhesiolysis, in 1-3 attempts, with a 28.7% recurrence rate of spontaneous IUAs.