Eight years of vasectomy

A series of 177 consecutive cases of vasectomy performed at the operating theatre at the Family Planning Association, Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is reviewed. These cases were performed over 8 years from July 1974 to August 1982. There are four operating sessions a week, each session being performed by a gynaecologist. Tubal ligations, vasectomies and minor gynaecological procedures are carried out in the operating theatre. I do a full range of gynaecological procedures but all vasectomies are done on my list. During this period, 177 vasectomies were done as compared with 2,598 tubal ligations. The procedure of vasectomy is described together with modifications which have evolved over the eight years that the procedure has been performed. In this series there was one case of haemorrhage sufficient to require admission to hospital for transfusion. There was one case of haematoma formation requiring evacuation. There was no case of gross infection. Routine semen analysis was done six weeks following the procedure and one week later. At first specimens of the vas were not sent routinely for histological examination. At present a piece of vas is excised on each side and sent for histological examination. From analysis of the data, the typical vasectomee is 34 years old, living in a stable union. He is employed and his income and education are among the higher levels. He has three children and he was influenced to have a vasectomy by talking with friends and through the mass media. (AU)

The vacuum extractor: experimental demonstration of distortion of the foetal skull

Distortion of the parietal bones occurs whenever traction is applied via the vacuum extractor. This was confirmed experimentally by using a fresh mature stillborn foetus, and taking X-ray pictures of the skull with the three different of cap, and with different degrees of traction. (Summary)

The use of the Gibbon catheter and the Walsh catheter in genito-urinary surgery

The Gibbon catheter and the Walsh catheter have been described and their advantages over other catheters shown. The Walsh catheter is particularly useful after prostatectomy for it drains the bladder without infection or clot retention. The Gibbon catheter has largely removed the necessity of emergency prostatectomy. It is also very useful in cases of urethral fistula. A simple procedure such as dilatation of the urethra and passage of a Gibbon catheter often causes the fistula to close. This catheter is also of use in the treatment of urethral stricture and, as a temporary measure, in the treatment of retention of urine caused by carcinoma of the prostate(AU)

Vacuum extractor: experimental demonstration of distortion of the fetal skull

Using a mature stillborn fetus, various sizes of caps and different degrees of traction of the Malmstrom vacuum extractor were employed and radiographs taken in order to demonstrate distortion of parietal bones. The danger of tearing the injunction of the falx and tentorium or rupture of the sagittal sinus were discussed. Further x-rays were taken with a Neville-Barnes forceps instead of the vacuum extractor (AU)