Complications of laparoscopic sterilization. Comparison of 2 methods

A retrospective study of 5346 cases of laparoscopic sterilization with special reference to early and late complications was undertaken. In the 6-year period from 1972 to 1978, 846 patients were sterilized by the elasticized silicone-ring technique and 4500 patients were sterilized by the electrocautery method. The electrocautery method was complicated by electrical burns in 13 cases (0.29%); 3 of these patients required bowel resections. Mechanical complications occurred in 1.6% of the Silastic-ring cases, but none of the patients required additional surgery. The Silastic-ring patients had greater postoperative abdominal pain than the electrocautery patients, but it usually abated within 48 hours. There were 15 cases of postoperative pelvic infection in the electrocautery group, and none in the Silastic-ring group. Bleeding from the mesosalpinx occurred in both groups and occurred more often with coincident suction D&C. Technical failure to perform the sterilization procedure was principally related to previous abdominal surgery. A substantial number of patients complained of menstrual irregularity and/or dysmenorrhea following these sterilization procedures. The majority of women reported unchanged or improved sexual relations. Improvement in sexual relations was reported by significantly more patients in the Silastic-ring group than in the electrocautery group.