Tubal litigation by minilaparotomy

This study describes 77 interval minilaparotomies performed during 1980 in patients ranging in age from 15 to 48 years at a University of Chile hospital. Obese patients and those with previous laparotomies or asociated pathology were excluded. The Pomeroy and Madlener techniques were routinely used. The average postoperative hospital stay was 1.09 days. Of the patients aged under 30 31-40 and 40 or over respectively 2 0 and 0 had 1-2 children 14 32 and 1 had 3-4 children and 7 20 and 1 had 5 or more children. 37 patients had previously used pills 34 had used IUDs and 6 had used no method. 33 patients requested sterilization because of problems with their contraceptive method 9 because of associated medical pathology 7 because of failure of their method and 28 for medicosocial reasons which in most cases referred to grand multiparas over 30 years old with low educational levels and difficult economic situations. 71 patients had a satisfactory postoperative course. 5 had minor complications including infection of the incision and localized andexial inflammations. 1 patient suffered a serious complication of pelviperitonitis which required intense antibiotic therapy over an 8-day hospital stay. Follow-up continued for 1 year but 54.5% failed to appear for follow-up. Some cases of common gynecological pathology such as cervicitis endometritis pelvic pain and an ovarian cyst were noted but were not attributed to the sterilization.