Laparoscopic tubal sterilization: a report on 300 cases
St Elmo Hall, J.; Watson, I.M.
West Indian Medical Journal 26(4): 187-196
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-3144 PMID: 145737 Document Number: 110208
300 cases of laparoscopic tubal sterilization using a single entry technique under local anesthesia are described. The routine procedure is described along with figures depicting surgical equipment used. Briefly, the fallopian tubes were cauterized by a 3-burn method and the procedure was performed on an outpatient basis. A 10% failure and complication rate is reported, including 3 cases of wound sepsis, 1 case of vaginal laceration, 2 cases of intraabdominal bleeding, 3 cases of drug allergy, 3 cases of extraperitoneal insufflation, and 1 bowel burn. 1 pregnancy occurred (rate of .5) due to unsatisfactory cautery. 15 failed operations occurred due to inadequate anesthesia, pelvic inflammatory disease, and other technical difficulties. Acceptor characteristics are presented tabularly, and the majority were unmarried; age range was from 23-44 years; and parity ranged up to .12. This procedure used a Wolf 10-mm diameter operating laparoscope attached to fiber optic light.