Laparoscopy in Southland.

A review was made of 625 consecutive gynaecological laparoscopies carried out in the Southland Hospital. Forty-one point seven percent were for diagnostic reasons, mainly in the diagnosis of pelvic pain and infertility, and 57.3 percent were for sterilisation. Complications occurred with 2.2 percent and 5.6 percent respectively, but the serious complications and those requiring laparotomy only came to 1.1 percent. Four women (1.1 percent) became pregnant after sterilisation, all four occurring during the first year of the procedure. Overall, laparoscopy is confirmed to be a valuable diagnostic technique and a safe method of sterilisation.