Vaginal hysterectomy: dispelling the myths

Despite advances in minimally invasive surgery, most hysterectomies are still performed by laparotomy. The ratio of abdominal to vaginal hysterectomies ranges from 1:1 to 6:1 across North America, and in Canada is approximately 3:1. The SOGC clinical practice guideline on hysterectomy states that the vaginal route should be considered for every hysterectomy; if it is assumed that most surgeons would try to follow accepted guidelines, vaginal hysterectomy is presumably being considered and excluded. The evidence is compelling that vaginal hysterectomy is the approach of choice for benign pathology. The cited contraindications to vaginal hysterectomy are often unsubstantiated. In this commentary we examine the four reasons most often cited for avoiding a vaginal hysterectomy: (1) uterine size, (2) nulliparity and uterine descent, (3) need for oophorectomy, and (4) previous abdominopelvic surgery and extrauterine disease. More research is necessary to evaluate and demystify the barriers to performing minimally invasive hysterectomy. We recommend that preceptorship programs be developed for gynaecologic surgeons in an attempt to decrease the ratio of abdominal to vaginal hysterectomies.