Microscopic appearance of the human fallopian tube following a reanastomosis procedure.

Microscopic evaluation of a human fallopian tube following end-to-end anastomosis over a polyethylene stent was performed 10 days after the initial surgical procedure. The stent was removed on the 3rd postoperative day. Examination of the excised tube revealed a patent lumen without any evidence of mucosal compromise. The submucosa adjacent to the anastomotic site revealed a mild polymorphonuclear leukocytic infiltration, although a marked inflammatory response was observed around the 5-0 chromic sutures used in the reanastomosis. This case and recent animal studies suggest that early removal of the stent does not appear to jeopardize the patency of the tube and may be preferable to removal after 3 to 4 months.