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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: This study attempted to determine whether tubal sterilization entails a risk of later complications that require rehospitalization, so a stable population taken from hospital records of 522 patients who had elective tubal sterilizations from January 1, 1970-December 31, 1971 were followed for at least 7 years and their readmission records were studied. Of the 522 women sterilized, 113 (22%) were rehospitalized during the follow-up period. Blacks comprised 81% of readmissions. Those with interval sterilizations (n=139, 27%) were readmitted in 29% of cases compared with 19% readmissions of postpartum sterilized women (n=383, 73%). The most common operative technique was Pomeroy (85%); there were 2 Irving procedures, 6 fimbriectomies, and 70 laparoscopic cauterizations (23 postpartum and 47 interval). Almost one-third (32%) of patients readmitted were done so for gynecological problems. Menstrual irregularities were the most common cause (22 patients), followed by pelvic pain, (n=10), and leiomyomas (n=7). 71% of readmissions were under age 20 or over age 40 years. Of the 36 women who were readmitted with gynecological complaints, 17, or almost half, had hysterectomy during the follow-up period. In conclusion, patients sterilized postpartum were less apt to need rehospitalization than those undergoing interval procedures (19 vs. 29%), and laparascopically sterilized women had a higher incidence of readmission than women sterilized by other techniques.
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