Microsurgical tubal anastomoses performed as an outpatient procedure by minilaparotomy are less expensive and as safe as those performed as an inpatient procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost-effectiveness, safety, and success of microsurgical tubal anastomoses performed by minilaparotomy as an outpatient.
DESIGN: Retrospective.
SETTING: Military tertiary care medical center. PATIENT(S): Seventy consecutively seen women of reproductive age who were undergoing surgical reversal of sterilization from August 1, 1993, through August 1, 1995. INTERVENTION(S): Microsurgical sterilization reversal by minilaparotomy was performed as an inpatient (group 1, 47 patients) or as an outpatient (group 2, 23 patients). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cost, complication rate, pregnancy rate. RESULT(S): The procedure cost more for inpatients ($3,116) than for outpatients (!,456). Pregnancy rates were similar (56% in group 1 vs. 75% in group 2). There was only one complication in the series. CONCLUSION(S): Outpatient microsurgical sterilization reversal performed by minilaparotomy is as safe and effective as the inpatient procedure and is less expensive.