Critical appraisal:Dolmans MM, Hollanders de Ouderaen S, Demylle D, Pirard C 2015

Critical Appraisal

Article being appraised

Dolmans MM, Hollanders de Ouderaen S, Demylle D, Pirard C. Utilization rates and results of long-term embryo cryopreservation before gonadotoxic treatment. J Assist Reprod Genet 2015 Aug;32(8):1233-7 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26174124.

Applicable clinical question

In female cancer patients does the use of embryo cryopreservation result in pregnancy and live birth?

Key Facts

Study Design

case series

Study aims:

To evaluate long-term embryo cryopreservation, utilization, and success rate in patients subjected to gonadotoxic treatments in the context of cancer.

Number of Patients:

54

Results of outcome(s):

Embryos were obtained from 52 of the 54 patients. Four patients died before their frozen embryos could be thawed.

Of the remaining 48, 9 women returned to use their embryos, resulting in 6 pregnancies (66% cumulative pregnancy rate), two of which ended in miscarriage. The live birth rate per patient was thus 44% (4/9). The true come-back rate, calculated after applicable exclusions, was found to be 23%

Includes an economic evaluation

no