Over a period of 10 months (august 1975 to may 1976), the authors observed 6 successive accidents during the Shirodkar manoeuvre during operations for sterility of tubal origin: 1) 4 cases involved disturbances in haemostasis only, clinical manifestations being seen in only one case. In the laboratory, these quite atypical manifestations suggested either fibrinolysis or disseminated intravascular coagulation. 2) In 2 cases there was cardiovascular collapse with cardiac arrest. In the first patient, cardiac arrest was followed by a period of coagulopathy quite similar to those seen previously. In the second case resuscitation failed, leading the authors to abandon use of the Shirodkar manoeuvre, which brought the study to an end. We are unable to provide any satisfactory pathological interpretation of these complications, thought two factors are worthy of consideration:--The hydrocortisone suspension used;--The uterine trauma related to peroperative manipulations.