Laparoscopically assisted gamete intrafallopian transfer with local anesthesia and intravenous sedation

Objective: To determine the length of procedure, length of recovery, patient tolerance, complications, and pregnancy rate (PR) of laparoscopically assisted GIFT performed during local anesthesia with IV sedation. Design: A retrospective study. Setting: Freestanding private ambulatory surgical center. Patients: Thirty-one consecutive couples with infertility. Interventions: Laparoscopically assisted GIFT during local anesthesia with IV sedation. Main Outcome Measures: Surgery time, recovery time, patient tolerance, PR, miscarriage rate, and complications. Results: Cannulation of at least one fallopian tube was achieved successfully in all patients. The average surgery time was 64 ± 12 minutes (mean ± SD). The average recovery time was 92 ± 30 minutes. The PR was 39% with an ongoing PR of 32%. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Conclusion: Local anesthesia with IV sedation for GIFT using a two puncture laparoscopic technique was well tolerated by the patients. Our ongoing PR of 32% compares very favorably with other series using general anesthesia.