Clinical experience with intrauterine devices was evaluated, based on 627 insertions over a 14-year period in a private practice. Overall, there were few differences in the event rates leading to IUD discontinuation for the IUDs evaluated, principally Cu-7, Dalkon Shield and Lippes Loop. Pelvic infections were infrequent (0.7-2.2 cases per 100 woman-years of IUD use). The rate of PID in the study population appeared to be similar to that noted in the general population. IUD use did not appear to compromise future fertility, based on evaluations of patients after removal of their IUDs or from their return to fertility following IUD removal. IUD event rates (pregnancy, expulsion, displacement, removal for bleeding and/or pain) were related to the difference between endometrial cavity length and IUD length. A significant increase in the event rates was noted, regardless of the IUD type, when the endometrial cavity length exceeded IUD length by 2.0 cm or more, or when the difference between the endometrial cavity and IUD length was less than 0.5 cm.
Open laparoscopy was performed in 630 patients seeking permanent contraception for health reasons. Various electric and mechanical tubal occlusion methods were utilized. With few exceptions, uterine curettage was performed at the end of the laparoscopic procedure. Curettage revealed unexpected findings in 10 cases. Laparoscopic exploration of the peritoneal cavity showed pathologic findings in 10% of the patients. There were no intraoperative complications related to open laparoscopy. Fourteen patients (2%) underwent immediate laparotomy, to manage unexpected findings in six and to correct complications of unipolar tubal cautery technique in eight. Postoperative complications possibly related to open laparoscopy were limited to minor wound infection in 0.3% and febrile reaction of short duration in 0.1% of the cases. Two sterilization failures occurred in the series, both following unipolar techniques employing coagulation and resection. Many patients have now been followed for 5 or more years without noticeable increases in complaints of uterine bleeding and/or pelvic pain. The data indicate that open laparoscopy is a suitable means of performing tubal sterilization in the female.
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