Laparoscopic tubal sterilization by the "burn only" technic.

A 5-year combined experience of 2857 cases of the "burn only" technic for laparoscopic tubal sterilization is reviewed. One method failure resulted in an ectopic gestation. There were no operator errors. One laparotomy 36 hours after the sterilization procedure was done. No hemorrhagic complications and no bowel burns were encountered. From a review of the literature and the results presented here, it seems that adequate coagulation of a generous segment of the tube is the critical factor in preventing subsequent pregnancies. Tubal division or resection appears to offer no improvement in efficacy, and when tissue is obtained for pathologic confirmation, it is often of no value. When coagulation plus division or resection is performed, the incidence of hemorrhagic complications and bowel burns increases markedly.