A renaissance for vaginal hysterectomy

The most often performed major operation in gynecology is hysterectomy. The very first vaginal hysterectomy (VH) was performed by Langenbeck in 1813 (1). In 1934, Heany reported a series of 565 vaginal hysterectomies performed for benign diseases, half of which were indicated by fibromyomas (2). Since the 1950s many articles have been published on VH and indications for operation have increased. VH deserves more attention and needs to be carried out more often for the time of the operation is shortened, the postoperative complications occur less and the postoperative stay in hospital is shortened as well.

VH has been done with the traditional method.

Between November 1, 1991 and April 1, 1995 we performed 38 VH operations. The average operating time was 55 minutes, not a single patient needed blood transfusion, one bladder rupture occurred and the average postoperative hospitalisation was 7.1 days.

VH is a safe operation with few intra- and postoperative complications, without notable blood loss. VH allows one to shorten the operating time and allows early postoperative discharge of some patients from hospital.