Supravaginal uterine amputation versus hysterectomy with reference to subjective bladder symptoms and incontinence

Studies on postoperative symptoms of hysterectomy have devoted scarcely any attention to malfunctioning micturition and pressure sensation in the bladder region. Postoperative occurrence of incontinence is mentioned in some studies. Preoperatively, 33.3% of abdominal hysterectomy patients and 38.3% of patients with supravaginal uterine amputation complained of pressure sensation in the bladder region; one year after operation the corresponding percentages were 9.6 and 10.3. Prior to the operation, a sensation of residual urine after micturition occurred in 28.6% of hysterectomy patients and 35.5% of supravaginal amputation patients; at 1 year postoperatively these figures were 22.1 and 10.3% respectively. The decrease in the supravaginal amputation group is statistically highly significant. Preoperative incontinence occurred in 36.2% of hysterectomy and 47.7% of supravaginal amputation patients. Twelve months postoperatively the values were 28.8 and 22.6% respectively, the decrease in the supravaginal amputation group being again statistically highly significant. Development of log-linear models for both groups gave interactions "earlier urinary tract infections/sensation of residual urine" and "earlier urinary tract infections/incontinence". Thus the greater reduction in the symptoms in the supravaginal amputation group appears to result rather from the type of operation than from the differences in the two patient groups.