Characteristics of vasectomies performed in selected outpatient facilities in the United States, 1980.

ABSTRACT

PIP: In 1981 the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and the Centers for Disease Control conducted a survey of US clinics providing female and males sterilization procedures. This analysis provides new information on the numbers of vasectomies performed in 1980 in outpatient facilities, types of anesthesia used, cost, and lenght of postoperative stay. Results reveal that in 1980: 1) 10,394 vasectomies were performed in respondent facilities of all types; 70 freestanding surgical centers performed 4347 vasectomiew, and 32 family planning clinics performed 4163 vasectomies; 2) the average reported charge for a vasectomy in respondent facilities was $273, which included the physician's and anesthesia fees; 3) throughout the US, the average cost of a vasectomy was higher in freestanding surgical centers than in other facilities; 4) in all regions, 96% of the facilities other than freestanding surgical centers, reported only the use of local or regional anesthesia; 5) of the 11 facilities reporting that vasectomies cost more than $500, 82% reported that more than 75% of the vasectomies were done using general anesthesia; and 6) the mean postoperative stay for all reported vasectomies was 1.3 hours--facilities reporting higher percentages of general anesthesia use tended to have longer postoperative stays. This data address only 2% of the 520,000 vasectomies estimated to have been performed in the US in 1980. Although vasectomy is often considered a cheap, simple, safe, and effective outpatient procedure, in this study an unexpectedly high use of general anesthesia is found. In addition, vasectomy may be fairly expensive, sometimes costing as much of $1000, and the postoperative observation may not be as long as recommended.