[Exploratory salpingotomy].

One of the difficulties in tubal surgery concerning the distal portion of the tube is the accurate assessment of the value of the ampullary muscularis and mucosa on which depend the choice of the right operative procedure and the prognosis. The difficulties are most important in case of total terminal occlusion particularly when the site of the former ostium is no longer visible. An exploratory salpingotomy preceding any repair is made under the operating microscope. The simple technique that we describe allows: --an accurate assessment of the inner ampulla; --lysis of the mucosal adhesions inside the ampulla; --detection of the former ostium from the inside and the incision in the right place. The functional consequences of such an incision are difficult to appraise because the number of cases is so far too small and the follow up too short. However, those consequences seem slight when compared to the advantages, which are better precision in the investigation, the indication and the execution of the surgical repair.