[Hysterectomy--a time for reappraisal]

Hysterectomy is the most common non-pregnancy-related surgical procedure performed worlwide. The objective of our study was to investigate the hysterectomy by age, indication and surgical method employed during 1994-1998 in Department of Obstetrics and gynecology of Higher Medical Institute-Plovdiv, Bulgaria. During the period 1352 hysterectomies are performed. The most common indication was uterine myoma--50.3%. The most frequently the removal of the uterus is made at the age of 45-49. The low percentage of vaginal hysterectomies has been noticed--4.6%, as well as the comparatively frequent removal of the ovaries along with hysterectomy for benign diseases. A thorough analysis has been made in order to reduce the unnecessary hysterectomies, to choose the right approach and extend of the operation.