Objective: Three-dimensional sonography is a good alternative method to assess the position of microinserts. Adequate position after three months allows for the interruption of other contraception. Objective is to evaluate inter-observer reproducibility of the interpretation of coronal transvaginal 3D ultrasound view of the uterus to evaluate the position of Essure®.
Study design: Inter-observer reproducibility study. Fifty women underwent successful bilateral placement of microinserts (Essure®) by hysteroscopy in the Department of Gynaecology of a teaching hospital and were included in the study. At three month, 3D ultrasound coronal views of the fifty uterus (accounting for one hundred microinserts) were assessed by five different observers and microinsert position was classified according to the classification described by Legendre et al. Inter-observer reproducibility in reading the 3D coronal view of the uterus was evaluated.
Results: The k-value was disparate, from 0.26 to 0.82. Inter-observer reproducibility then ranged from fair to almost perfect, depending on a prior knowledge of the position classification.
Conclusions: Transvaginal 3D coronal view of the uterus is sufficient to assess the positioning of the microinserts when the practionner or the surgeon is familiar with the classification method.
Keywords: 3D sonography; Essure(®); Hysteroscopic sterilization; Inter-observer reproducibility.
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