Sterilization of women using the fiberoptic laparoscope and tubal electrocoagulation
Shemwell, R.E.; Kharuf, Z.
Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society Official Organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society 125(12): 413-416
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-6921 PMID: 4272267 Document Number: 67912
The experience with tubal sterilization using the laparoscope in 2 small community hospitals, 1 a charity and the other a private institution, is reviewed. The hospital records of the first 200 patients sterilized using laparoscopic visualization in Northeast Louisiana from July 1970 to October 1972 were studied retrospectively. There were 100 clinic patients sterilized at E.A. Conway Hospital in Monroe and 100 private patients sterilized at Glenwood Hospital in West Monroe. The data indicated that patients on the clinic service requested sterilization at a younger age but a greater parity than the private patients. Multiparity alone was the most common reason for sterilization. 84 private patients and 89 clinic patients underwent sterilization for that reason. There were 18 patients sterilized on medical grounds alone on the private service and 11 on the clinic service. Most patients who lived in the city or immediate area were discharged the same evening of the day laparoscopy was performed. Those who lived more than 45 minutes away from the hospital were kept overnight. The only other patients who required hospitalization overnight were 4 clinic patients who had complications. All postpartal patients were discharged at the normal time, and none were kept longer because of sterilization. Postoperatively, 35 patients on the clinic service required pain medication after ligation. 48 private patients required medication after surgery. No pregnancies have been reported. The procedure was found to be safe and effective. It also has the advantage of requiring only a brief hospitalization and recovery. The only serious complication which occurred was bleeding which required loparotomy in 3 patients.