[Constipation following hysterectomy. Retrospective study based on 105 cases]

Constipation after surgery is considered as a subgroup of patients in whom the disorder begins after pelvic surgery. A group of patients (median age 52 years with a range of 34-65 years) who had a hysterectomy underwent a retrospective study with the aid of a questionnaire and clinical records, to evaluate the incidence of constipation before and after the operation. Forty patients were operated on for benign pathology and 65 for malignant pathology. Forty-two patients underwent a Wertheim-Meigs, 39 had laparohysterectomy, 20 had a colpohysterectomy and 4 had a Schauta. The incidence of constipation increased from 25% preoperatively to 38% postoperatively (p < 0.05). There is no difference in the incidence of postoperative constipation among the various operations. Constipation after hysterectomy is associated with urinary disorders. These data confirm previous studies on the effect of hysterectomy on urinary and defaecatory functions and they show how a simple colpohisterectomy can cause constipation.