LAPAROSCOPIC SILASTIC BAND STERILIZATION FAILURES

Silastic band laparoscopic sterilization was introduced in the early 1 970s as an alternative to unipolar cautery laparoscopy. Banding elimin ates burn injury and reduces tubal destruction, However, in comparison with other methods, the success of Silastic banding may depend more o n tubal morphology, This case-control study of 70 banding failures and 140 controls matched for age, gravidity, and date of procedure reveal s that morphologic abnormalities of pelvic organs (adhesions or tubal thickening) or a history of a disease known to cause such abnormalitie s (pelvic inflammatory disease) increases the risk of sterilization fa ilure, The risk of failure is further increased if the procedure is pe rformed immediately postpartum or postabortion rather than as an inter val procedure.