Statistical survey of gynecological laparoscopy/pelviscopy in Germany till 1977.

By mailing, 1.365 questionnaires to gynecologists, 265,900 laparoscopies/pelviscopies were reported in 682 questionnaires (49.2%) by anonymous answer. These had been performed by 380 gynecologists (hospitals) between 1949 and 1977 in Germany. 302 gynecologists who answered the questionnaires (44.2%) are not using the endoscopic technique. Till the end of 1977 in Germany monopolar high-frequency current was used in 52%, bipolar high-frequency current was used in 42%, and modern endocoagulation was used in 25% for the purposes of hemostasis. 240 hospitals (63%) are mainly using pelviscopes of 5--8 mm diameter, 124 hospitals (33%) are using laparoscopes of 11 mm diameter. All together 949 (3.56%) complications had occurred which necessitated 690 laparotomies (2.59%). Cause of these complications were damages to vessels and burns by high-frequency current. 24 (0,09%) deaths were reported which had occurred during or following the intervention, that is one death for 11,000 pelviscopies. Mortality due to this method can be itemized as follows: 13 deaths (0.09%) in 140,977 (53%) diagnostical laparoscopies/pelviscopies, 3 deaths (0.08%) in 37,639 (14.2%) diagnostical-operative pelviscopies, 8 deaths (0.09%) in 87,284 (32.8%) sterilizations. Since 1974, however, the mortality rate is smaller than 1 : 100,000. Since 1973 every year 30,000 to 35,000 pelviscopies were registered in Germany; no deaths in 1974, 1976 and 1977.