Comparison of interval and postabortal/puerperal laparoscopic sterilization with the tubal ring procedure.

During a 5-year period, 344 women underwent laparoscopic sterilization with the tubal ring. Complications and failure rates were compared in intervals and postabortal/puerperal procedures. Only 9% were lost to follow-up, and 50% underwent a hysterosalpingoghraphy (HSG). The comparison of interval and postabortal/puerperal procedures showed no significant differences in complication rates, but postabortal/puerperal laparoscopy had a significantly lower failure rate than interval procedures (p less than 0.01). It was found that women whose laparoscopy was carried out despite peroperative complications had a significantly higher risk of sterilization failure (p less than 0.005). It is concluded that postabortal/puerperal laparoscopic sterilization with the tubal ring procedure is as safe as interval sterilization, and it is strongly recommended that peroperative complications with tubal ring sterilization should result in a reversion of the laparoscopy to a laparotomy and, if not, that the women be referred for HSG.