American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists' 1985 membership survey.

ABSTRACT

The 1985 membership survey of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) revealed that the membership performed dramatically fewer laparoscopic sterilizations in 1985 than were reported in any previous AAGL survey. The distribution of laparoscopic sterilizations by method of tubal occlusion has changed, with the percentage of mechanical methods of occlusion showing a relative increase and the percentage of electrocoagulation procedures showing a relative decrease. Whereas bipolar coagulation without division continues to be the most popular technique, only 6% of respondents reported using unipolar coagulation. The data suggest that the relative likelihood of ectopic pregnancy after laparoscopic sterilization may be greater after coagulation methods than after mechanical ones. Members often used conservative surgical approaches to ectopic gestation, with 39% managed with salpingotomy and 7% managed with laparoscopy alone. The likelihood that sterilization reversal would be performed varied by method of occlusion, with reversal most likely to be performed (71%) after spring clip application.