Identify the use of the instrument given below:

Correct Answer: B. For tubal ligation La d

The instrument in question is the Filshie clip (or similar tubal occlusion device like Hulka clip), the gold standard for permanent female sterilization via tubal ligation in India. This is a spring-loaded titanium clip with a silicone rubber lining that compresses and occludes the fallopian tube lumen when applied across the isthmic portion of the tube. The mechanism works by creating a permanent seal that prevents sperm passage. The Filshie clip is preferred over other methods (Pomeroy, Irving) because it is reversible (though reversal success is ~50–70%), requires minimal tissue destruction, has a failure rate of only 1–2 per 1000 procedures, and can be applied via laparoscopy (minimally invasive). In India, tubal ligation remains the most common permanent contraceptive method, particularly in the post-partum period or during cesarean section. The clip's design—with its specific jaw width and spring tension—makes it uniquely suited for tubal compression without cutting or suturing, distinguishing it from instruments used for other gynecological procedures.

Why the other options are wrong

A. For ligation of uterine artery during hysterectomy — Uterine artery ligation during hysterectomy requires vascular clamps (e.g., Satinsky clamp, Kocher clamp) or suture ligation, not a tubal clip. The uterine artery is a large vessel requiring secure hemostasis; a clip designed for tubal occlusion lacks the grip strength and design to safely occlude a major artery. This option confuses the instrument's purpose with vascular surgery principles. C. Ovarian cystectomy — Ovarian cystectomy requires grasping forceps, scissors, and suturing instruments for tissue dissection and hemostasis of the ovarian capsule. A tubal clip is designed for compression, not tissue manipulation or cutting. The clip cannot perform the fine dissection needed to separate cyst wall from ovarian parenchyma, making this a procedurally incorrect choice. D. Ectopic pregnancy — Ectopic pregnancy management (whether medical, expectant, or surgical) does not use tubal clips. Surgical treatment requires salpingostomy (linear incision with suturing) or salpingectomy (complete tube removal), neither of which involves clip application. The clip cannot remove or repair damaged tubal tissue, making this option clinically irrelevant.

High-Yield Facts

Mnemonics

CLIP for Tubal Ligation Compress the tube | Laparoscopic approach | Isthmic placement | Permanent contraception. Use this to recall that clips compress (not cut) the tube during minimally invasive sterilization. Filshie vs Pomeroy Filshie = Clip (reversible, no cutting) | Pomeroy = Tie & cut (permanent, irreversible). When you see 'clip' in a question, think Filshie; when you see 'ligation with suture,' think Pomeroy.

NBE Trap

NBE may pair the tubal clip with vascular ligation (option A) to trap students who conflate 'ligation' across different anatomical contexts. The key discriminator is that clips compress (tubal), while vascular procedures require hemostatic clamps or sutures.

Clinical Pearl

In Indian government hospitals and NGO-run family planning clinics, laparoscopic tubal ligation with Filshie clips is the preferred method for post-partum sterilization because it avoids the morbidity of open hysterectomy and offers reversibility if the patient later desires pregnancy—a critical consideration in a country with high rates of infant mortality and changing family planning preferences.

_Reference: DC Dutta's Textbook of Obstetrics (3rd ed.), Ch. 24 (Contraception); Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, Ch. 68 (Gynecological Surgery)_