Abdominal complications following ultrasonically guided percutaneous transvesical collection of oocytes for in vitro fertilization.

Ultrasonically guided transvesical oocyte aspiration is a safe and efficient method in most in vitro fertilization (IVF) units. It entails very rare severe complications, even though transvesical punctures performed may unintentionally pierce the bowel or even major blood vessels. Nevertheless, mild complications are rarely noted and reported. During a 9-month period 140 ovum pickups were performed: 102 by transabdominal ultrasound-guided puncture and 38 by means of laparoscopy. In the former group, abdominal pain (11.6%), exacerbation of previous pelvic inflammatory disease (2.9%), mild hemoperitoneum (2.9%), urinary tract infections (5.8%) and transient macroscopic hematuria (5.8%) occurred following the procedure. In the latter group, abdominal pain followed in 7.8%; no urinary tract complications were noted in women undergoing laparoscopic ovum aspiration. In spite of the fact that ultrasonically guided transvesical oocyte collection is an atraumatic method with rare complications, they should be reported in order to draw attention to their not-so-rare occurrence and with the aim of their prevention.