Minilaparotomy under local anesthesia for outpatient sterilization: a preliminary report.

An outpatient sterilization program was started at Silas B. Hays Hospital, Fort Ord, California, and later extended to Malcolm Grow USAF Medical Center and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. From January 1976 to June 1978, two hundred and eight outpatient minilaparotomy Pomeroy tubal ligations were performed under local anesthesia. The minilaparotomy technique, using standard operating room equipment, is described. The average operating time was 31.8 minutes and the complication rate was 2.5%.