[Choice of the surgical route in hysterectomy]

At the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Rostock there were no significant differences in morbidity and mortality in 2,811 abdominal hysterectomies and 2,030 vaginal ones in the years from 1970 to 1989, but the recovery of the patients after vaginal hysterectomy is better because of the intact abdominal wall. Therefore the vaginal route should be favoured if local conditions allow this.