Deaths attributable to tubal sterilization in the United States, 1977 to 1981

In 1979, the Centers for Disease Control began surveillance of deaths attributable to tubal sterilization in order to determine why they occur and what may be done to prevent them. Since that time, 29 such deaths have been identified as occurring in the United States from 1977 through 1981. Of these 29 deaths, 11 followed complications of general anesthesia, seven were due to sepsis, four were due to hemorrhage, three were due to myocardial infarction, and four deaths were related to other causes. Some of these deaths might have been prevented by use of endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia, particularly for laparoscopic sterilization, safer use of unipolar coagulation or use of alternative techniques, careful insertion of the needle and trocar for laparoscopy, and discontinuation of oral contraceptives before sterilization. Further surveillance may help to make tubal sterilization even safer.

Inferior epigastric haemorrhage, an avoidable complication of laparoscopic clip sterilization

Forty laparoscopists were questioned as to their preferred site for introducing a Samaritan clip applicator during sterilization procedures. The introduction sites were compared with the location recommended by Lieberman (1976) and with the surface anatomy of the inferior epigastric vessels. Of those gynaecologists questioned, only 12% used a site within 1 cm of that recommended by Lieberman; 25% used a site within 1 cm of the epigastric vessels as suggested by surface anatomy. It is proposed that a second puncture site in the midline or at the lateral border of the rectus muscle should be used to avoid the complication of inferior epigastric vessel trauma at laparoscopic sterilization procedures.

Mortality associated with fertility and fertility control: 1983

This analysis demonstrates that levels of mortality associated with all major methods of fertility control (tubal sterilization, the pill, IUD, condom, diaphragm, spermicides, rhythm and abortion) are low in comparison with the risk of death associated with childbirth and ectopic pregnancy when no fertility control method is used. The exceptions are the risks associated with pill use after the age of 40 for women who do not smoke, and with pill use after the age of 35 for smokers. The safest approach to fertility control is to use the condom and to back it up by abortion in case of method failure. Except for the lowest-risk method of fertility control (condom and abortion) and the highest (pill use by a smoker), most strategies of fertility control result in a similar risk of mortality until the woman reaches 35 years of age. At that point, risk from pill use rises more sharply than risk associated with other methods. The above conclusions are based on the lowest contraceptive failure rates reported by Schirm and his colleagues for married American women. If, instead, the highest failure rates are employed, use of the pill by a nonsmoker or the IUD clearly is safer than reliance on barrier methods or rhythm. As noted earlier, there are few women who make their contraceptive choices solely on the basis of perceived risk of mortality. Very few, for example, would consider abortion as a primary method of birth control; and for many, abortion would not be acceptable even as a backup for failed contraception. Although the risk of mortality resulting from use of the IUD is low, many women who have not yet had children might not want to face the increased risk of infertility problems from pelvic inflammatory disease that have been associated with use of this method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Randomized comparative study of culdoscopy and minilaparotomy for surgical contraception in women

Informed, healthy, volunteering women seeking interval sterilization were randomly allocated either to culdoscopy or to minilaparotomy. Data concerning the operation and follow-up to six weeks post-operation were analyzed for 199 women in the culdoscopy group and 196 in the minilaparotomy group. Major complications, both at operation and subsequently, occurred only in the vaginal procedure group (3%). Minor complications occurred in 3.6% of women in the minilaparotomy group, the majority of these involving the abdominal wound. In the women operated vaginally, minor complications occurred in 1.5%. Failure to perform the intended procedure on the fallopian tubes occurred in 10.6% of culdoscopy cases and 0.5% of minilaparotomy cases. It is concluded that the vaginal approach cannot be recommended except for surgeons experienced in vaginal surgery.

Hysterectomy following sterilization

Using record linkage data derived from Scottish hospital discharge summaries, admissions to gynaecological units and hysterectomy rates have been studied following sterilization. The average annual gynaecological admission rate per 1000 women was 43.7 in the group of sterilized women and 21.5 in the control subjects. The average annual hysterectomy rate was 9.3 in the sterilized women and 2.5 in the control subjects. Although there were differences in age and pregnancy number between cases and controls, these did not account for the observed differences. This study was not able to determine whether the increase in gynaecological morbidity was due to the sterilization procedure or to the characteristics of the women sterilized.

The rise in ectopic pregnancy--exploration of possible reasons

The rate of ectopic pregnancies has been rising in the past decade and it is responsible for an increasing proportion of maternal deaths. A history of pelvic inflammatory disease is strongly associated with ectopic pregnancy. There is a higher rate of ectopic pregnancy among intrauterine device users than non-users. A history of abdominal surgery has been associated with ectopic pregnancy and there is some evidence that women taking certain hormonal preparations experience excess ectopic pregnancies. Through a critical review of the literature, the author explores the evidence for these associations. The paper closes with recommendations for future research.

Two-year follow-up of 3,466 sterilizations in India

Because female sterilization is being used extensively as a method of limiting family size, its early complications as well as long-term sequelae should be carefully documented. This analysis of a two-year controlled prospective study of 3,466 sterilized women shows that the incidence of poststerilization gynecologic abnormalities was not significantly higher than what might be expected in the general population and declined markedly over time. Poststerilization surgery rates were also low. The incidence of weight gain among sterilized women was significantly higher than that of weight loss. Analysis of menstrual patterns showed no change in menstrual cycle parameters after sterilization for the majority of the cases. Both favorable and unfavorable changes in menstrual cycle parameters were reported. The two-year pregnancy rate was 0.4%. One ectopic pregnancy was reported.

Sterilization in Bangladesh: mortality, morbidity, and risk factors

Although surgical sterilization in Bangladesh is common and has been designated as the primary means of helping the country slow its population growth, no reliable information exists regarding the procedure's safety. To define the types and rates of medical complications associated with sterilization, we followed 5042 women and 264 men undergoing sterilization. The problems that increased most markedly after the procedure compared with before included painful urination, shaking chills, fever for at least 2 days, and frequent urination. Most of the postoperative problems could be predicted by the presence of the same problem before the operation. Factor analysis of complaints in those persons who did not have a specific preoperative complaint showed that complaints clustered into three groups: urinary tract symptoms (urinary urgency and frequency), skin problems (bleeding from the incision, sore with pus, and stitches or skin breaking open), and general complaints (weakness and dizziness). The patient's sex, the sponsor and patient load of the sterilization center, and the dose of sedatives administered to women were significantly associated with specific postoperative complaints. Five women died during the study, resulting in a death-to-case rate of 9.9/10,000 procedures tubectomies; four deaths were due to respiratory arrest caused by oversedation.

Minilaparotomy or laparoscopy for sterilization: a multicenter, multinational randomized study. World Health Organization, Task Force on Female Sterilization, Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction

A multicenter, multinational randomized comparison of minilaparotomy and modified Pomeroy tubal ligation and laparoscopy with tubal electrocoagulation for interval sterilization of women was conducted in eight centers. Results were analyzed for 791 women in the minilaparotomy group and 819 in the laparoscopy group. Major complications occurred in 1.5% of women in the former group and 0.9% in the latter. Technical problems or major anesthetic complications occurred in 0.5% of subjects undergoing minilaparotomy and 0.9% of subjects undergoing laparoscopy. For minor complications the figures were 11.6% and 6.0%, respectively, while for minor complaints the rates were 34.1% and 26.5%, respectively. It is concluded that the two methods of approach to the fallopian tubes are similar in their complication rates. Because of its more simple requirements in terms of equipment and training, minilaparotomy is the preferred approach for services provided away from a major institution.

Deaths associated with laparoscopic sterilization in the United States, 1977-79

In 1979, the Centers for Disease Control began epidemiologic surveillance of deaths associated with tubal sterilization as part of an effort to assess the mortality risks associated with different methods of fertility control. The surveillance system identified nine deaths following laparoscopic sterilization in the United States from 1977 through 1979. The causes of these deaths and how some of them might have been averted are discussed.

Mortality risk associated with tubal sterilization in United States hospitals

Despite the millions of women who have undergone tubal sterilization in United States hospitals, little has been published about the risk of death from these procedures. To estimate a case-fatality rate of tubal sterilization, we combined data from the Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities and the National Center for Health Statistics with a review of the clinical circumstances for each woman whose death was identified as being potentially sterilization attributable. Considering all deaths temporally associated with tubal sterilization, we estimate that the case-fatality rate is nearly 8/100,000 procedures. When only deaths determined to be attributable to the sterilization operation per se are considered, the case-fatality rate is approximately 4/100,000 procedures, making death attributable to tubal sterilization a rear event.

There is no place in gynecological endoscopy for unipolar of bipolar high-frequency current

In 1981 we showed that there is a clear relationship between the extent of destruction of the vascular and nervous systems within the mesosalpinx, and the occurrence of menstrual disorders, and menopausal symptoms. Depending upon the individual sterilization technique, varying portions of the tubes are destroyed and considerable in jury is done to extensive parts of the mesosalpinx. Since two-thirds of the ovarian blood supply passes through the tubal branch of the uterine artery, after destruction of large areas of the mesosalpinx, a marked disturbance of ovarian metabolism must be expected. Using a patient questionnaire, we investigated the effects of the unipolar high frequency current method and the endo-coagulation procedure with respect to late complications. In the years following high-frequency sterilization (in a total of 258 women) 23 women (8.9) were hysterectomized; in the endocoagulation group only 9 patients (2.3%) underwent hysterectomy, primarily for recurrent therapy-resistent menometrorrhagia. Of the women sterilized by the unipolar HF- technique (total number 258) 20 (7.8%) required post-operative curettage 1-3 times while only 8 patients (2.1%) of the endocoagulation group required such a procedure. We found that 79 patients of the HF-group (30.9%) exhibited menstrual disorders compared with only 45 women 11.7% in the endocoagulation group.

Evaluation of contemporary female sterilization methods

Different methods of sterilization were evaluated. Laparoscopic techniques were the most satisfactory because they had lower pelvic and incision infection rates and shorter hospitalization and convalescent times than laparotomy lower pelvic infection rates than culdoscopy and culpotomy. Via laparoscopy, sterilization by coagulation and cutting, spring-loaded clips and bands was an effective, safe method. Mechanical problems with the applicator and optics and decreased visibility resulted in more technical failures and difficulties and more misapplication with the clip applicator. Although the total complication rates were similar with all methods, bleeding from the tubes and wound and pelvic infections were more frequent with silastic-band technique. Long-term complications, such as dysmenorrhea and menometrorrhagia and especially those resulting in hysterectomy after laparoscopy, are infrequent. Pregnancy rates are low after laparoscopic sterilization with coagulation and silastic bands as compared to the clip. Rates of complications with sterilization combined with abortion or delivery are only slightly higher than after abortion without sterilization and much less than the combined complications that would be anticipated from abortion and interval sterilization. To make colpotomy, culdoscopy and minilaparotomy easier and potentially safer, mechanical techniques using the spring-loaded clip and silastic band are being evaluated. Simplified techniques that can be administered via the cervix, such as Quinacrine, may be practical in the future.

Late complications of sterilization according to method

By using a patient questionnaire, we checked the effects of two tubal sterilization procedures (high-frequency [HF] and endocoagulation techniques) in relation to late complications. In the years following high-frequency sterilization, 23 women (8.9%) had hysterectomies; in the endocoagulation group only 9 patients (2.3%) underwent hysterectomy. Patients sterilized by the unipolar high-frequency technique required one to three curettages in 7.8% of cases, whereas only 2.1% of the endocoagulation group required this procedure. Seventy-nine patients in the high-frequency group (30.9%) exhibited menstrual disorders as compared to only 45 (11.7%) in the other group. The combination of menstrual irregularities and menopausal complaints was found in 7.4% of the HF group, while only 2.8% of the endocoagulation group experienced these problems. Menopausal complaints only, without menstrual disorders, occurred in 4.7% and 3.9% of the women, respectively. Eighty-five percent of 330 patients sterilized by the Semm endocoagulation technique had no menstrual complaints or menopausal symptoms; in the HF group this was the case for 160 women (62%). Our results demonstrate that late postoperative complications arise less often in patients sterilized by endocoagulation.

Tubal sterilization by bipolar laparoscopy: report of 232 cases

Two hundred thirty-two interval bipolar laparoscopic tubal sterilizations were performed in a university-affiliated community teaching hospital over a 3-year period. Advanced laparoscopy equipment, properly trained laparoscopists, and a system of delineated operating privileges were used; the complication rate was 0.8%. There was 1 intraoperative complication, and 1 postoperative complication that manifested itself on postoperative day 3. Neither complication was related to the electrocauterization. The cauterized segments of fallopian tube were intentionally transected in 195 (84%) of the patients. The equipment and methodology employed are discussed with comparison of bipolar electrocautery to mechanical nonelectric methods of laparoscopic sterilization, ie, bands and clips. The authors' preference for bipolar electrocautery tubal sterilization, using single-segment cauterization with tubal transection, is discussed.

Endometriosis and the development of tuboperitoneal fistulas after tubal ligation

The present study details gross and histologic findings of 79 previously ligated fallopian tubes from 3 groups of patients. Of 20 oviducts removed after documented sterilization failure (group I), 6 revealed a process compatible with endometriosis. Four of nine previously ligated fallopian tubes removed at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (group II) were successfully injected with India ink. In two patients histologic examination demonstrated the India ink in epithelium-lined spaces that lay beyond the muscle of the tubal wall extending from the tubal lumen to the serosal surface. Fifty oviducts were studied in twenty-five patients requesting reversal of their sterilizations (group III). A higher percentage of fistulas was demonstrated in patients with less than 4 cm of remaining proximal tubal segment. Furthermore, most of these fistulas were demonstrated in patients for whom 3 years had elapsed since the original sterilization procedure. Patients sterilzed by laparoscopic cautery methods were observed to have a higher percentage of fistula formation and histologic documentation of endometriosis at the sterilization site as compared with patients sterilized by other methods. Our observations suggest that ligation of the oviduct within 4 cm of the uterine cornu may predispose to the development of endometriosis and subsequent fistula formation in the tip of the ligated oviduct.

The use of the laparoscope in rural Thailand

A survey of the use of laparoscopy in rural Thailand was undertaken between June 1974 and December 1977. All the physicians were trained at either Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, or The Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics and the USA; about 30% and 46% of the physicians, respectively, were endoscopically inactive. The complication rate of rural laparoscopy was high and was inversely proportional to the degree of utilization. It is concluded that for a developing country with limited resources, laparoscopic sterilization in rural areas is not cost-effective; a technique using simpler and hardier equipment should be chosen.

Tubal lesions subsequent to sterilization and their relation to fertility after attempts at reversal

Tubal biopsy specimens were obtained at the time of tubal anastomosis in 26 previously sterilized women. Scanning electron microscopy showed that half the patients had abnormalities of tubal mucosa, including loss of mucosal folds, deciliation, and polyposis. These pathologic conditions, the morphologic features of which we describe, significantly increase in incidence the longer the time after sterilization. Our evidence suggests that the sooner reversal is performed after sterilization the greater the change of a successful intrauterine pregnancy.

Comparison of laparoscopic sterilization via spring-loaded clip and tubal ring

The spring-loaded clip and tubal ring techniques of laparoscopic female sterilization were compared for ease of performance, safety and effectiveness at the Asociación Demográfica Salvadoreña in San Salvador, where they were randomly assigned to a total of 299 patients. Rates of technical/equipment difficulties and procedural difficulties during laparoscopy were similar for both techniques. Procedure-related surgical complications occurred in three ring patients as a result of tubal transection. Pain during the procedure was more severe for tubal ring patients. Results suggest that both techniques can be safely and effectively used for laparoscopic sterilization.