Wertheim hysterectomy: a reappraisal

A total of 610 radical hysterectomies with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy were performed at the Mayo Clinic in the 20-year period from 1956 through 1975. This operative procedure was the primary therapy in 74% of the patients, the others having had previous pelvic irradiation. Operative morbidity, postoperative complications, lymph node involvement, and overall survival were analyzed.