Tubal Ligation Reversal

Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Tubal Reversal Information

How Do I Determine Which Tubal Reversal Information Is Accurate?
A member of The Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Message Board posts her concerns that she has read a lot of conflicting information about the best tubal reversal techniques. Members of Dr. Gary Berger's staff - as well as other patients - offer information and encouragement. On the Internet, claims about tubal reversal pregnancy rates are often made without supporting information or documentation - such as a description of the patient population, study method, and follow-up interval. Most Internet sites about tubal reversal do not provide any factual data at all. Any doctor may say that his patients have a particular success rate, but supporting the claim with actual data involves considerable effort. Performing a follow-up study such as the one Dr. Berger compiles requires keeping an accurate record of patients and their findings, as well as maintaining ongoing patient contact to determine the outcomes of treatment. Without this detailed type of information, the accuracy of any claim of success rates should be questioned.

The following is topic Other websites in forum Preparing for Tubal Reversal from the Tubal Reversal Message Board:
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Posted by Impatient (Member # 5526) on November 27, 2007 03:00 PM:
I have been looking at this board and other TR sites for a long time and wonder why their seem to be so many difrent stories on the best way to do the surgery, dye tests, no dye tests, 3 layers or 2. Honestly, it seems that some people are just trying to throw out stuff to run people off or to be misleading. How should me and my dh know what is right?
Carrie
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Posted by CarlaJo (Member # 10380) on November 27, 2007 03:04 PM:
By the statistics of pregnancy and the recovery time. Dr. Berger and his staff are awesome! I did my research also, and he had the best stats for my age and type of ligation.
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Posted by Julia Smith, RN (Member # 10) on November 27, 2007 03:07 PM:
Hi, Carrie. I was asked this same question just a few days ago and do have e-mail requests with this same question fairly frequently. I usually respond that the "three layers are better than two" theory is just the opinion of one doctor on the internet!
Dr. Berger sews the muscular and outer serosal layers together but not the inner endothelial layer as this may increase the risk of scar formation within the tubal lumen. In his opinion, this is the best approach. The suggestion I always make is to read through the testimonials from our patients. All of those women had surgery performed by Dr. Berger using the microsurgical techniques he pioneered -- with pregnancy rates near 80% in our latest follow-up survey. This is a clear indication that his techniques are successful and result in pregnancies!
On the Internet, claims about tubal reversal pregnancy rates are often made without supporting information or documentation - such as a description of the patient population, study method, and follow-up interval. Most Internet sites about tubal reversal do not provide any factual data at all. Any doctor may say that his patients have a particular success rate, but supporting the claim with actual data involves considerable effort. Performing a follow-up study such as the one Dr. Berger compiles requires keeping an accurate record of patients and their findings, as well as maintaining ongoing patient contact to determine the outcomes of treatment. Without this detailed type of information, the accuracy of any claim of success rates should be questioned.
I hope this is helpful!
Julia Smith, RN
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Posted by Sarah Meacham, RN (Member # 9766) on November 27, 2007 03:16 PM:
Hi Carrie,
We keep very detailed data and statistics on each of our patients (age, tube length, medical history, tube of tubal ligation, pregnancy history, etc.). This is obtained by daily contact with our patients to ensure we have accurate information regarding their surgery and their outcome. To the best of my knowledge, Dr. Berger is the only doctor with published data regarding outcomes following reversal surgery.
Please contact me (SarahM@tubal-reversal.net) with any other questions you may have and we look forward to having you as a future patient!
Sarah
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Posted by Jennifer Okun, R.N. (Member # 1806) on November 27, 2007 03:17 PM:
Hi Carrie,
What Julia answered is exactly right! Dr. Berger has been performing the reversal surgery for over 30 years, has performed over 6,000 reversals and has the most tubal reversal babies born world-wide. So, obviously Dr. Berger's technique is the best and he is doing it the best way possible.
I have worked for Dr. Berger for nearly 10 years and I can assure you - he is an amazing surgeon!
You will have the best outcome possible if you decide to undergo reversal surgery at our facility with Dr. Berger.
You may email me anytime with questions: Jennifer O@tubal-reversal.net
Best wishes!
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Posted by Jennifer Okun, R.N. (Member # 1806) on November 27, 2007 03:20 PM:
I should also add that Dr. Berger is the only physician in the country with a practice that is specifically limited to tubal reversal surgery. That is the only procedure we perform here with Dr. Berger performing four reversals each day, five days a week. We have a high staff/patient ratio with one or two nurses devoted specifically to your care while you are here. All of our nurses have advanced certification in cardiac life support (ACLS) and our anesthesiologists are MD's with board certification in anesthesia. The anesthesiologists are employees here and not anesthesia staff from another hospital or anesthesia service. So everyone here has expertise in caring for and performing reversal surgery. While you are here, you will only be with other women and couples who are here specifically for the same purpose.
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Posted by Rhonda Brown, RN (Member # 9485) on November 27, 2007 03:36 PM:
Dear Carrie,What a good question. We get asked this question quite a bit. The best tool that any patient can have is information. I do not know of any other physician that puts out the information that Dr. Berger provides. We encourage patients to check his credentials and to ask as many questions as they need to. We provide 24/7 coverage seven days a week not only to our patients that have had surgery, but to patients that are thinking of having tubal reversal surgery.
As you browse the message board and read all the posts you will see that experience is a factor with tubal reversal surgery We have had many patients come to Dr. Berger after they had been told that tubal reversal could not be done in their case and then Dr. Berger was able to successfully repair the tubes as he is able to do in 98% of the cases.
I do not think that you will find a more caring physician who is truely devoted to the procedure that he performs as well as patient care. We as staff members feel very fortunate to be a part of this experience and would love to meet you in the near future. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Rhonda

Friday, November 9, 2007

Testimonials after Tubal Reversal Procedures from Dr. Berger's Patients

"I had my tubal reversal March of 2005 and I have had my 2nd tubal reversal baby thanks to Dr. Berger."   Dina U.

"Even though I only have one tube open I still have had no problems getting pregnant. This is my 3rd tubal reversal baby."   Christy C.

"My husband and I had a beautiful baby boy. Dr. Berger and his staff - we would like you to know that we appreciate everything that you have done for us."   Sherwonder G.

"It was such a joy to visit with the most blessed doctor in the world - Dr. Berger. If God sees it fit, we will have another TR Baby soon."   Heidi F.

"Dr. Berger - you make miracles happen each day, and we thank you for using your talents to allow us to have our miracle baby."   Dayna and Steve B.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Fallopian Tube Length After A Tubal Ligation Procedure

The average fallopian tube is 10cm - 11cm in length prior to the sterilization procedure. Typically, around 0.5cm to 3cm is removed during a tubal ligation. Depending on the amount of tube removed, the tubes may be 4cm - 8cm in length after Dr. Berger performs the tubal reversal procedure. Based on the extensive follow-p study conducted by Dr. Berger at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, two out of three women with the ligation and resection procedure (tubal ligation) will become pregnant after reversal surgery with Dr. Berger. With more than 30 years of experience performing tubal reversal surgery, Dr. Berger is able to repair the tubes in 98% of cases and has had patients report pregnancies with tubes as short as 1.5cm.



Posted by suzanneingod (Member # 11558) on November 06, 2007 03:29 PM:

Got my medical report evaluated today thanks Rhonda for emailing me. I had the pomeroy, he removed 1.0 cm on one side and .5cm on the other. So my question is how long are tubes generally and how long will they be after the reversal? I am so excited I have never been this excited about surgery. I could do cartwheels if I thought my kids wouldn't freak out.

Suzanne
TL 1997
TR ~soon~

Posted by Simonsen6 (Member # 10172) on November 06, 2007 03:44 PM:

Suzanne
I too had the pomeroy stle of Tl on Dec 2000- I just had my Tr March 2007 and I ended up with 5.5 & 5.0 lenghts- still trying for that BFP but at least I am in the game now-

Congrats on choosing Dr. Berger- he is seriously the best!!!! YOU won't have any regrets- Good luck and wishing you long healthy tubes!!!!

Lots of Love,
Becki

Posted by Brandi (Member # 3653) on November 06, 2007 03:48 PM:

Hi Suzanne, I also had the pomeroy and 1.5 removed on both sides. I've read that tubes average 10 cm before TL, as for how long they will be after TR, is hard to say. I think it depends on how much scaring etc and how much Dr B has to remove to repair the tubes. I'm sure one of the nurses and other ladies will chime in with more helpful info. Goodluck to you!

Brandy
Posted by Sarah Meacham, RN (Member # 9766) on November 06, 2007 04:57 PM:

Hi Suzanne,

Brandy is correct - the average Fallopian tube (before a tubal ligation) is about 10cm. It is hard to predict how long tubes will be after reversal surgery, since Dr. Berger will not know exactly how much damage was done to the tubes until he is performing the surgery.

I'm glad to hear you are so excited about surgery - please let us know if you have any other questions and also when you are ready to schedule your surgery!

Sarah