[Recovery after ambulatory vasectomy]

The recovery after outpatient vasectomy, with particular attention to general postoperative complaints, was investigated by means of a questionnaire. A material of 115 patients who were submitted to operation during the period 1.1.1988-31.12.1988 was covered by the investigation. Replies were obtained from 81%. The frequency of complaints/complications apart from the first 24 hours postoperatively was found to be unexpectedly high as 77% had from one to seven complaints/complications (average 2.8), pain and swelling being the commonest. 32% had complaints for three weeks or more while 90% were free from complaints after nine weeks. The secondary consequences of the complaints were apparent inconsiderable preoperative illness and a great number of postoperative contacts with the general practitioner. 23% had sick-leave for more than the first 24 hours postoperatively, 6% for more than one week and a total of 47 contacts with the practitioner occurred in 82 men. It is recommended that thorough information about the postoperative course should be provided by the departments in order to reduce the number of days of postoperative sick-leave and the number of contacts with the health services.