Outpatient Laparoscopic Sterilisation: Comparison Between Electrocautery and Clip Application

In a personal prospective series of 504 day-case laparoscopic sterilisations in 1977-78, unipolar tubal electrocoagulation was compared with spring-loaded clip application. Two patients who had cautery required laparotomy because of serious bleeding and one because of accidental bowel diathermy. Clip application was free from serious complications, but caused more post-operative pain. The majority of patients were performing normal or light household duties within 24 hours of sterilisation.