Ten-year review of hysterectomies: trends, indications, and risks

This report concerns the indications, morbidity, and death associated with 6,435 consecutive abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies at Hutzel Hospital during a 10 year period. There was an extraordinary number of high-risk patients included in this group. Morbidity and postoperative bleeding were more common following vaginal rather than abdominal hysterectomy. These complications were also more common when the operation was performed during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. There were 17 deaths. Thromboembolic complications were the major cause of death. Selective use of prophylactic antibiotics and low-dose heparin and reduction in the number of blood transfusions by preoperative endocrine and hematinic therapy may reduce the postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. Probably few operations will ever contribute as much to improving the quality of life of women as do indicated hysterectomies. However, the added risk do not seem to justify utilizing this operation for the sole purpose of sterilization in preference to simpler and safer procedures.