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Our aim was to investigate the use of a balloon catheter device in comparison with metal cannula for hysterosalpingography (HSG) in terms of patient comfort. A total of 168 patients were randomised for HSG either with a balloon catheter (n = 83) or metal cannula (n = 85). Scores of pelvic pain during insertion of the devices, injection of the contrast medium and 1 h after the procedure were evaluated using the Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale; complications and reinsertion rates were also noted. The pain scores were significantly lower in the balloon catheter group (p < 0.001). The reinsertion rate of metal cannula was higher (8.2% vs 2.4%) as well as the incidence of nausea being the most common short-term adverse effect (14.1% vs 1.2%) in the metal cannula group (p = 0.002). Performing HSG with a balloon catheter is advantageous for decreasing the pain and side-effects related to the procedure, when compared with the use of a metal cannula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the article related to medicine in the previous issues including the problem based learning (PBL) programs from the Korean Society of Medical Education, the attitudes towards organ donation among medical students, and the novel application of mobile phone cameras in undergraduate pathology education.