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Introduction and Hypothesis: The objective was to assess trends in hysterectomy routes by patients who are likely and unlikely candidates for a vaginal approach., Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent vaginal, abdominal, or laparoscopic/robotics-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy between 2017 and 2020 using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients undergoing hysterectomy for a primary diagnosis of benign uterine pathology, dysplasia, abnormal uterine bleeding, or pelvic floor disorders were eligible for inclusion. Patients who were parous, had no history of pelvic or abdominal surgery, and had a uterine weight ≤ 280 g on pathology were considered likely candidates for vaginal hysterectomy based on an algorithm developed to guide the surgical approach. Average annual changes in the proportion of likely vaginal hysterectomy candidates and route of hysterectomy were assessed using logistic regression., Results: Of the 77,829 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 13,738 (17.6%) were likely vaginal hysterectomy candidates. Among likely vaginal hysterectomy candidates, the rate of vaginal hysterectomy was 34.5%, whereas among unlikely vaginal hysterectomy candidates, it was 14.1%. The overall vaginal hysterectomy rate decreased -1.2%/year (p < 0.01). This decreasing trend was nearly twice as rapid among likely vaginal hysterectomy candidates (-1.9%/year, p < .01) compared with unlikely vaginal hysterectomy candidates (-1.1%/year, P < 0.01); the difference in trends was statistically significant (p < 0.01)., Conclusions: The rate of vaginal hysterectomy performed for eligible indications decreased between 2017 and 2020 in a national surgical registry. This negative trend was more pronounced among patients who were likely candidates for vaginal hysterectomy based on favorable parity, surgical history, and uterine weight., (© 2024. The International Urogynecological Association.)

Background: Total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH) has been proposed as an alternative to laparoscopic (TLH) and abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), particularly for women with medical comorbidities. We examined the use and long-term outcomes of vaginal hysterectomy for women with early-stage endometrial cancer., Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database was used to identify women with stage I-II endometrial cancer treated with primary hysterectomy from 2000 to 2015. Multivariable regression models were developed to examine clinical, demographic, and pathologic factors associated with performance of TVH. The association between route of hysterectomy and cancer-specific and overall survival was examined using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models., Results: A total of 19,212 patients including 837 (4.6%) who underwent TVH were identified. Performance of TVH declined from 4.5% in 2000 to 2.2% in 2015 (P < 0.0001). Compared to patients 65-69 years of age, patients 75-79 years old (aRR = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.19-1.79) and those >80 years old (aRR = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.30-1.97) were more likely to undergo TVH. Women with high grade tumors were less likely to undergo TVH. Five-year overall and cancer specific survivals were similar for TAH, TLH, and TVH. In multivariable models, there was no association between TVH and either cancer-specific survival (HR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.65-1.22) compared to laparoscopic hysterectomy., Conclusion: Use of TVH for stage I and II endometrial cancer has decreased in the U.S. Chronologic age is the greatest predictor of performance of TVH. Performance of TVH does not negatively impact survival for women with early-stage endometrial cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Dr. Wright has served as a consultant for and Clovis Oncology, received royalties from UpToDate, and received research funding from Merck. Dr. Hou has served as a consultant for Foundation Medicine and Natera., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is a national shift toward laparoscopic hysterectomy as the predominant form of minimally invasive hysterectomy. Previous research suggests that vaginal hysterectomy is associated with lower operative time and improved outcomes; however, this has not been validated in a modern cohort of women., Objective: This analysis aims to evaluate whether total vaginal hysterectomy remains associated with lower operative times and fewer postoperative complications than total laparoscopic hysterectomy or laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, given recent shifts in clinical practice patterns and training experience., Study Design: A secondary analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was performed. Three primary outcomes were defined for the analysis: operative time, rate of major complications, and rate of minor complications. Secondary outcomes included changes in route of surgery over time. Descriptive analyses were performed for all outcomes of interest. Operative time, rate of major complications, and rate of minor complications were compared for each of the 3 forms of minimally invasive hysterectomy: total laparoscopic hysterectomy, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, and total vaginal hysterectomy. Bivariate analyses were performed using analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson chi-square, or Fisher exact tests where appropriate. Multivariable ordinary least squares and logistic regression were used to assess for overall differences in outcomes and trends over time, controlling for sociodemographic factors and medical comorbidities. Sensitivity analyses were performed using a propensity score-matched cohort created to balance groups across time., Results: A total of 161,626 women met criteria for inclusion. Rates of total vaginal hysterectomy dropped from 51% to 13% between 2008 and 2018, whereas rates of total laparoscopic hysterectomy increased from 12% to 68% (P<.001). In multivariable analyses, total laparoscopic hysterectomy and laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy were associated with lower odds of major complications (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.813 [0.750-0.881] and 0.873 [0.797-0.957], respectively) and minor complications (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.723 [0.676-0.772] and 0.896 [0.832-0.964], respectively) than total vaginal hysterectomy. Temporal trends show an increase in total vaginal hysterectomy operative time and decreases in total laparoscopic hysterectomy and laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy operative times over the 11-year analysis period (P<.001), although total vaginal hysterectomy continues to have the shortest median operative time overall. No temporal trends were observed in rates of complications., Conclusion: This analysis highlights recent shifts in rates of minimally invasive hysterectomy. Alongside this change in practice pattern, this study also brings to light a resultant shift in the complication rates associated with each surgical approach, as laparoscopic hysterectomy has lower rates of complications than vaginal hysterectomy despite longer operative times., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is the first treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility. The first birth after human UTx in Sweden occurred in 2014 and very favourable results of the Swedish trial performed with laparotomy raised great hope. Several teams are leading their own trial among the world, but UTx is still in its experimental phase. Surgical intervention needs to be optimized. The long surgical duration (> 10 h), vascular dissection and risks of ureteral damages for live donors are major drawbacks. Minimal invasive surgery by means of robotic-assisted laparoscopy for live donors could become an improved option. Our collaborative Swedish-French team has initiated efforts to introduce minimal invasive surgery in one trial in Sweden and one in France. UTx is somewhat similar to a radical colpohysterectomy for arterial dissection. We describe a robotic-assisted radical colpohysterectomy and its transposition to uterus retrieval in a living donor. We report our experience on nine cases that were completed prior to our French UTx robot-assisted trial.

Objective: To characterize trends in self-reported numbers and routes of hysterectomy for obstetrics and gynecology residents using the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case log database., Methods: Hysterectomy case log data for obstetrics and gynecology residents completing training between 2002-2003 and 2017-2018 were abstracted from the ACGME database. Total numbers of hysterectomies and modes of approach (abdominal, laparoscopic, and vaginal) were compared using bivariate statistics, and trends over time were analyzed using simple linear regression., Results: Hysterectomy data were collected from 18,982 obstetrics and gynecology residents in a median of 243 (interquartile range 241-246) ACGME-accredited programs. The number of graduating residents increased significantly over time (12.1/year, P<.001), whereas the number of residency programs decreased significantly (0.52 fewer programs per year, P<.001) over the 16-year period. For cases logged as "surgeon," the median number of abdominal hysterectomies decreased by 56.5% from 85 (interquartile range 69-102) to 37 (interquartile range 34-43) (P<.001). The median number of vaginal hysterectomies decreased by 35.5% from 31 (interquartile range 24-39) to 20 (interquartile range 17-25) (P=.002). The median total number of hysterectomies per resident decreased by 6.3% from 112 (interquartile range 97-132) to 105 (interquartile range 92-121) (P=.036). In contrast, the median number of laparoscopic hysterectomies increased by 115% from 20 (interquartile range 13-28) in 2008-2009 to 43 (interquartile range 32-56) in 2017-2018, despite the decrease in overall number of hysterectomies (P<.001). These trends were statistically significant., Conclusions: The total number of hysterectomies performed by obstetrics and gynecology residents in the United States is decreasing, and the routes are changing with decreases in abdominal and vaginal approaches, and an increase in use of laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Introduction and Hypothesis: Pelvic organ prolapse is a common diagnosis. Today there is no consensus on the ideal operation technique for apical prolapse. Vaginal hysterectomy with suspension of the vaginal cuff is the most frequently used, but the popularity of uterus-preserving techniques is increasing. The aim of this study was to describe trends in surgical techniques used to treat primary apical prolapse in Danish hospitals., Methods: Data were obtained from the Danish Urogynecological Database and included women with primary prolapse surgery in the apical compartment operated in Denmark 2010-2016. Public hospital departments were divided into three categories according to degree of urogynecological specialization: high level, moderate level, and no specialization., Results: The number of vaginal hysterectomies decreased and the number of uterus-preserving operations increased from 2010 to 2016. The proportion of uterus-preserving techniques versus vaginal hysterectomy differed substantially between different hospital types. At departments with high and moderate levels of specialization, uterus-preserving techniques increased during the period, accounting for nearly 90% and 40%, respectively, in 2016, while decreasing to < 35% for departments with no specialization. Three of the four departments with high-level specialization preferred the Manchester-Fothergill procedure, while one preferred sacrospinous hysteropexy. Only 2.3% of all procedures were performed at private hospitals., Conclusions: The proportion of uterus-preserving techniques to treat apical prolapse increased from 2010 to 2016. However, there is a wide variation in practice at the different hospitals. An agreement on uterus-preserving techniques has not been reached.

Study Objective: To investigate the surgical trends among different types of hysterectomy (abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic, and subtotal) over a 15-year period in Taiwan., Design: A retrospective cohort study., Setting: A population-based National Health Insurance Research Database., Patients: Women undergoing various types of hysterectomy for noncancerous lesions., Interventions: Data for this study were extracted from the inpatient expenditures by admissions files of Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 1998 through 2012 and divided into three 5-year time frames: first (1998-2002), second (2003-2007), and third (2008-2012). The variables included types of hysterectomy, patient age, gynecologist age and sex, hospital accreditation level, and surgical volume. Chi-square and trend tests were used to examine the association between the variables., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 329 438 patients who underwent various types of hysterectomy were identified; 306 257 were included in the study. During the 15-year period, 45% underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, 41% underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH), 9.8% underwent vaginal hysterectomy, and 4.2% underwent subtotal abdominal hysterectomy. The frequency of LHs increased from 35.9% in the first period to 43.9% in the second period and remained at 44.2% in the third period. During the same time period, there was a decrease in the frequency of total abdominal hysterectomies. Typically, younger patients underwent LHs by gynecologists with large volume surgical practices and medical centers., Conclusion: This 15-year study describes an increase of LHs and subtotal abdominal hysterectomies over time and provides evidence of surgical trends and a paradigm shift of hysterectomies. Surgical skills and performance extended from high- to low-surgical volume gynecologists and from medical centers to regional and local hospitals. This shift may have a great influence on patient and health care provider choice of treatment., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To investigate the effect of challenging factors on laparoscopic hysterectomy trends within twenty-four years., Population and Method: This was a trend analysis study of 7558 women who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications between 1995-2018 in Bursa Uludag University Hospital, Turkey. A trend analysis of obesity, previous laparotomy (≥3) and uterine specimen weight (≥500g) was applied for abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), vaginal hysterectomy (VH), and laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) rates in this period. The primary outcome was laparoscopic hysterectomy trends throughout the years. We measured the effect of obesity, previous laparotomies and large uterus on TLH trends as secondary outcomes., Results: The ratio of TLHs to all hysterectomies was 2.4% in 1995 and 44.7% in 2018 which increased 33 times higher over 24 years. The percentage of obese patients in TLH cases increased from 1% to 37%, the rate of patients who had three or more previous laparotomy in TLH cases increased from 0% to 32.2%, and the percentage of patients who had more than 500g uterus specimen in laparoscopic hysterectomy cases increased from 0% to 32.8%., Conclusion: Laparoscopic hysterectomy trends are increasing in challenging cases. Obesity, previous surgeries, and large uteruses are no longer a limiting factor for laparoscopic hysterectomy., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare current practice in the management of female pelvic organ prolapse in Australia and New Zealand with that in 2007, and assess the impact on practice of the withdrawal of Prolift® and Prosima® mesh kits in 2015., Materials and Methods: In early 2015, two invitations to participate in a survey, including a link to Surveymonkey, were emailed to 2506 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) trainees and fellows. The online survey closely resembled a printed survey that was posted to RANZCOG trainees and fellows in 2007 and had additional questions relating to the impact of withdrawal of Prolift® and Prosima® products., Results: Four-hundred-and-three doctors participated, giving a response rate of 16%. Native tissue repair was the procedure of choice for primary and recurrent prolapse of the anterior and posterior vaginal wall. An implant was used to treat 45% of anterior recurrences and 25% of posterior recurrences. Vaginal hysterectomy and repair were the procedures of choice for uterovaginal prolapse. Sacrospinous hysteropexy was the uterine preservation procedure of choice, preferred by 41%. For post-hysterectomy vault prolapse, sacrospinous colpopexy and vaginal repair was preferred by 65% of respondents. Between 2007 and 2015, there was a substantial decrease in respondents' usage of implants across all indications except for midurethral slings and sacrocolpo/hysteropexy. Forty-two percent of respondents changed their practice as a result of Prolift® and Prosima® being withdrawn., Conclusion: There is a trend toward increasing use of various native tissue prolapse repair procedures and midurethral slings, and less utilisation of transvaginal mesh for prolapse., (© 2018 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Study Objective: To examine utilization patterns of different laparoscopic approaches in inpatient hysterectomy and identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with the selection of specific laparoscopic approaches., Design: Using data from the 2007 to 2012 National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS), we identified adult women undergoing inpatient laparoscopic hysterectomy for nonobstetric indications based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Benign cases were categorized based on laparoscopic approach, classified as total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), or laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH). We assessed changes in the use of these approaches during 2007 to 2012, and used multinomial logistic regression to examine the association of patient and hospital characteristics with the choice of laparoscopic approach in 2012. The NIS sample weights were applied to generate nationally representative estimates., Design Classification: Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification III)., Setting: Hospital inpatient care nationwide., Patients: Female adult patients in the NIS database who underwent an inpatient laparoscopic hysterectomy between 2007 and 2012., Intervention: Inpatient laparoscopic hysterectomy., Measurements and Main Results: Of the inpatient laparoscopic hysterectomies performed in 2012, 83.2% were for benign indications. The TLH approach accounted for 48.3% of all laparoscopic hysterectomies, followed by LAVH at 37.3% and LSH at 14.4%. Robotic assistance was reported in 45.0% of all cases and 72.3% of malignant hysterectomies. An examination of temporal trends during 2007 to 2012 demonstrates a shift in the laparoscopic approach from LAVH toward TLH, with a slight decrease in LSH. Patient race/ethnicity, income, indication for hysterectomy, and comorbid conditions, as well as hospital teaching status, urban/rural location, bed size, type of ownership, and geographic region, were significantly associated with the choice of laparoscopic approach., Conclusion: Benign laparoscopic hysterectomy is increasingly performed as TLH rather than LAVH. In addition to clinical factors, the selection of laparoscopic approach is influenced by patient socioeconomic and hospital characteristics., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To describe conditions regarding hysterectomies during the past 15 years in Portugal., Study Design: Nationwide retrospective study of women who underwent hysterectomy in Portuguese public hospitals in the period between 2000 and 2014. Patient data regarding hospital codes, geography, patient age, indications, operative techniques, associated procedures, complications, admission dates, discharge dates and 30-day postoperative readmissions were extracted from the national database with information regarding all public hospitals in Portugal. For calculation of hysterectomy rates, the total number of women was found using the Statistics Portugal website. Data were analysed using STATA version 13.1., Results: A total of 166 177 hysterectomies were performed between 2000 and 2014 in public hospitals in Portugal. The overall rate of hysterectomy decreased 19.3% (from 212/100 000 to 171/100 000 women per year). The average age of women at time of hysterectomy increased from 51.6±11.4 to 55.2±12.3years (p<0.001). There was an increase in laparoscopic [1.2%-9.5%, p<0.001] and vaginal route [13.3%-21.2%, p<0.001], with a consequent decrease in laparotomic route [85.5%-69.1%, p<0.001]. There was a change in the pattern of indications for hysterectomy; however, uterine fibroids remain the major indication for hysterectomy [45.3%-37.6%, p<0.001]. In women with hysterectomy for benign pathology, the rate of bilateral adnexectomy decreased from 71.0% to 51.9% (p<0.001) and the rate of bilateral salpingectomy increased from 1.0% to 15.1% (p<0.001). The mean number of hospitalization days decreased from 7.1±6.1 (in 2000-2004) to 5.4±5.0 (in 2010-2014) (p<0.001). Globally, the rate of complications increased from 3.3% in 2000-2004 to 3.6% in 2010-2014 (p<0.01)., Conclusion: In Portugal, the rate of hysterectomies decreased in the last 15 years with an increase in age at the time of the procedure and a change towards less invasive routes. Uterine fibroids remain the major indication for hysterectomy. Additionally, we noted a significant shift towards more concomitant bilateral salpingectomy (and less bilateral adnexectomy) during hysterectomy for benign indications, according to the evidence suggesting the fallopian tube as the origin of ovarian cancer., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To estimate the recent temporal trends of concurrent bilateral salpingectomy (BS) during vaginal hysterectomy (total vaginal hysterectomy [TVH] and laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy [LAVH]) in the United States., Design: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample, including all female patients 18 years and older whose inpatient discharge record indicated a TVH or LAVH performed for benign indications between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2011. Joinpoint regression was used to identify statistically significant changes in overall and subgroup temporal trends of TVH and LAVH as well as concomitant BS during the 14-year study period (Canadian Task Force Classification II)., Setting: Not applicable., Patients: All patients who underwent TVH and LAVH from 1998 to 2011 registered in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample database., Interventions: Not applicable., Measurements and Main Results: Regarding TVH, between 1998 and 2001, there was a steep negative trend with an annual percentage change of -5.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], -8.8 to -2.2). From 2001 to 2011, the negative trend was still observed but with a more gradual 2% annual decrease (95% CI, -2.4 to -1.3). Conversely, the rate of LAVH increased at a rate of 4.4% each year (95% CI, 3.7-5.0). From 1998 to 2004, the national rate of BS during TVH increased sharply with an annual increase of 42.8% (95% CI, 22.7-66.3). Beginning in 2004, the BS rate during TVH decreased and remained stable. During LAVH, the rate of concomitant BS increased an estimated 15% each year during the entire study period (95% CI, 11.9-17.8)., Conclusion: The proportion of annual LAVH with concomitant BS procedures performed across the nation is on the rise while TVH is declining with a stable rate of concomitant BS., (Copyright © 2016 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hysterectomy remains one of the frequently used surgical operations on women in Australia despite new therapeutic approaches for most of the common conditions for which hysterectomy is indicated., Aims: To determine whether the surgical approach to hysterectomy has changed in New South Wales (NSW) over the period 1981 to 2010-2012., Data and Methods: De-identified individual records for hysterectomy patients during the three-year period (January 2010 to December 2012) provided by the NSW Ministry of Health were used. Robotic assistance with surgery was not recorded in the hysterectomy data. Analysis largely involved the method of indirect standardisation., Results: The average annual hysterectomy rate during 2010-2012 was 3.07 per 1000 females per annum; the majority of patients stayed an average of four days in hospital. Total abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies were the two most frequently used procedures. One-in-four procedures involved the use of laparoscopes. Principal diagnoses (in descending order) were disorders of menstruation and other abnormal bleeding, genital prolapse, leiomyoma of uterus, malignant neoplasm of genital organs and endometriosis. While declining trends in hysterectomy rates were noted since 1981, an increasing trend in the use of laparoscopy was evident., Conclusions: The 45% decrease in hysterectomy rates was indeed the most striking finding of our analysis. This is probably due to the development of alternative nonsurgical procedures such as oral hormone suppression of menstruation and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system., (© 2016 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Background: Recent policy changes by insurance companies have been instituted to encourage vaginal hysterectomy (VH) as the preferred route for removal of the uterus. It is not known if advantages of VH for benign indications apply to women with gynecologic cancer., Objective: The goal of this study was to assess trends in surgical approach to hysterectomy among gynecologic cancer patients and to evaluate outcomes by approach. We hypothesized that, among gynecologic oncology patients, postoperative complications and hospital stay would differ by surgical approach, and that advantages of VH for benign indications may not apply to gynecologic cancer patients., Study Design: We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study of cervical, endometrial, or ovarian/fallopian tube cancer patients treated surgically in Washington State from 2004 through 2013 using the Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System. Surgery was categorized as abdominal hysterectomy (AH), laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH), or VH. We determined rate of surgical approach by year and the association with length of stay, 30-day readmission rate, and perioperative complications., Results: We identified 10,117 patients who underwent surgery for gynecologic cancer, with 346 (3.4%) VH, 2698 (26.7%) LH, and 7073 (69.9%) AH. Patients undergoing AH had more comorbidities than patients with VH or LH (Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥2: 11.3%, 7.9%, and 8.1%, respectively; P < .001). From 2004 through 2013 AH and VH declined (94.4-47.9% and 4.4-0.8%, respectively; P < .001) while LH increased from 1.2-51.4% in 2013 (P < .001). Mean length of stay was 4.6 days for women undergoing AH and was 1.9 days shorter for VH (95% confidence interval, 1.6-2.3 days) and 2.6 days shorter for LH (95% confidence interval, 2.4-2.7 days) (P < .001). Risk of 30-day readmission for patients undergoing LH was 40% less likely compared to AH but not different for VH vs AH., Conclusion: AH and LH remain the preferred routes for hysterectomy in gynecologic oncology. Over the past decade, there has been a significant shift to LH with lower 30-day readmission and complication rates. There may be a limited role for VH in select patients. Current efforts to standardize the surgical approach to hysterectomy should not apply to patients with known or suspected gynecologic cancer., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To estimate the association between obesity and the recent trends of routes chosen for hysterectomy performed for benign indications in the United States., Materials and Methods: Using the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Project's database, patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications from 2005 to 2011 were identified by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes and were categorized into total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH), laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). The patients were divided into four subgroups according to body mass index (BMI) (less than 25, 25-29.9, 30-39.9, and 40 or greater). The data were analyzed using Student's t test or χ2 and Fisher's exact test., Results: A total of 18,810 patients underwent hysterectomy for benign indications during the study period: 9,852 (52.4%) were TAH, 5,146 (27.4%) TVH, 2,296 (12.2%) LAVH, and 1,516 (8.0%) TLH. The rates of TAH increased from 45.7% in patients with ideal body weight to 62% in morbidly obese patients (P<.001). The rate of TVH and LAVH decreased from 32.7% and 13.3% in patients with ideal body weight to 17.1% and 11.7% in morbidly obese patients, respectively (P<.001 and 0.04). The rate of TLH performed was independent of BMI (P=.61). Higher BMI was associated with longer operative time (P<.001) in all routes of hysterectomy. The rates of superficial and deep wound infections were higher with increasing BMI in patients undergoing TAH (P<.001) but not with TVH (P=.26), LAVH (P=1.0), or TLH (P=.48)., Conclusion: Regarding hysterectomy performed for benign indications, increasing BMI was associated with increased rate of TAH and decreased rate of TVH and LAVH, but not the rate of TLH. Increasing BMI was associated with increased operative time for all subgroups and increased surgical site infection in the TAH group.

Objective: To determine the impact of introduction of a robotic surgical system on hysterectomy trends., Methods: A retrospective, cohort study using longitudinal medical records from a tertiary care community hospital was used to determine the surgical approach to hysterectomy. For the purposes of analysis, surgical approaches were categorized as robotically assisted, laparoscopic, laparotomy, vaginal, or laparoscopically assisted vaginal., Results: A total of 4,440 women underwent a hysterectomy between January 2007 and December 2012 (benign gynecology N = 3,127, gynecologic oncology N = 1,001, urogynecology N = 312). Amongst benign gynecologists, during the five years following introduction of the robotic system, the rate of hysterectomy performed via laparotomy decreased from 62.2 percent to 39.1 percent, p-value < 0.001. The rate of robotically assisted hysterectomy increased from 0.0 percent to 26.4 percent, p-value < 0.001. When subspecialties were examined, the rate of hysterectomy performed by a gynecologic oncologist via laparotomy decreased from 89.7 percent to 20.0 percent, p-value < 0.001. The rate of robotically assisted hysterectomy increased from 0.0 percent to 78.3 percent, p-value < 0.001. Amongst urogynecologists, the rate of hysterectomy performed vaginally decreased from 80.0 percent to 33.6 percent, p-value < 0.001, while the rate of robotically assisted hysterectomy increased from 0.0 percent to 54.2 percent, p-value < 0.001., Conclusions: The percentage of robotically assisted hysterectomies has dramatically increased and is now the primary modality for performing hysterectomy amongst subspecialists.

Study Objective: To compare differences in trends in reported surgical experience of residents in obstetrics and gynecology in the United States insofar as abdominal, vaginal, and laparoscopic hysterectomy., Design: Retrospective analysis of the national case log reports from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for obstetrics and gynecology cases logged as "surgeon" from 2002 to 2012 (Canadian Task Force classification III)., Setting: AGCME-accredited residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology., Participants: Eleven thousand five hundred and eight graduating residents in obstetrics and gynecology (n = 11 508)., Measurements and Main Results: Since 2008, when the ACGME began reporting the 4-year cumulative hysterectomy case load statistics for graduating residents in obstetrics and gynecology, there has been no significant change in the mean (SD) number of hysterectomies performed by residents from 118.1 (38.0) cases in 2008-2009 to 116.1 (31.0) cases in 2011-2012 (p = .16; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.78 to 4.78). During the past decade, however, the total number of reported abdominal hysterectomies consistently decreased from 89.1 (34.2) cases in 2002-2003 to 59.1 (21.0) cases in 2011-2012 (28% decrease; p <.001; 95% CI, 27.7-32.3). The number of vaginal hysterectomies also trended down from 34.9 (19.2) cases to 19.4 (9.0) cases (40% decrease; p <.001; 95% CI, 14.3-16.7). The ACGME did not report the number of laparoscopic hysterectomies performed by residents until 2008-2009, when residents reported performing 23.4 (17.0) cases. From 2008 to 2012, this number increased to 38.5 (20.0) cases (72% increase; p <.001; 95% CI, 13.6-16.6). The proportion of reported laparoscopic hysterectomies performed with robotic assistance was not separately reported., Conclusions: Although the overall number of hysterectomies reported by residents has remained stable since 2008, the predominant modes of hysterectomy during the past decade have changed substantially, with laparoscopic hysterectomy comprising an increasingly large proportion of resident experience. As laparoscopic hysterectomy has become more common, reported cases of abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies have decreased. Additional statistics on the percentage of laparoscopic hysterectomies performed using robotic assistance would be valuable to additionally analyze the effect of this new technology on resident training., (Copyright © 2014 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vaginal hysterectomy is the oldest and least invasive of the hysterectomy techniques and fulfills the evidence-based requirements as the preferred route of hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease. Currently, vaginal hysterectomy is commonly utilized for treating uterine prolapse, but despite proven safety and effectiveness, the use of vaginal hysterectomy for treating non-prolapse conditions has been and remains underutilized in surgical practice. Improving the use of vaginal hysterectomy in the future will likely depend on addressing the key issues of training and maintaining skills in the technique and increasing awareness of the scientific evidence supporting its use.

Hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed gynecological operations. The most common indications for hysterectomy are symptomatic uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and uterine and pelvic organ prolapse. The procedure can be performed by vaginally or abdominally and with laparoscopic assistance. Choosing the perfect method the gynecologist should take into consideration how the procedure can be performed most safely to fulfill the needs of the patient. In the last few years the number of the laparoscopic procedures has been increasing.

Purpose of Review: To evaluate the surgical technique and outcomes of women undergoing the modified approach to vaginal hysterectomy at Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center from 2000 to 2011. A retrospective chart review was performed of all vaginal hysterectomy cases performed using the modified technique., Recent Findings: There is much evidence in favor of the safety of vaginal hysterectomy over other modes of hysterectomy, such as the lower overall incidence of vaginal cuff dehiscence, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery from surgery. The traditional method of performing vaginal hysterectomy involves early anterior or posterior colpotomy. At times, this may be difficult secondary to a flush cervix, distorted anatomy, and adhesions from prior surgeries or infection. At our teaching institution, however, we have adopted a different technique, initially developed by Dr. Reza Mohajer who is one of our faculty members and co-author of this article, that facilitates ligation of uterine vessels without initial attempt at colpotomy. This enables Ob/Gyn residents to safely and successfully perform vaginal hysterectomies despite large uterine size, nulliparity, flush cervix and previous pelvic surgery., Summary: Modified approach to difficult vaginal hysterectomy facilitates performance of vaginal hysterectomy without need for initial anterior or posterior colpotomy.

Objective: To evaluate the applicability of the technique of vaginal hysterectomy in non-prolapsed uterus., Methods: A retrospective cohort study with 220 patients submitted to vaginal hysterectomy from January 2004 to July 2010 by the Vaginal Surgery and Pelvic Floor Team. Patients mean age was 44.4 years and they had on average three births (0-10 deliveries). The surgery was performed even in cases of previous abdominal surgery, and cesarean section was prevalent in 54.6% of patients., Results: The mean uterus weight was 278.9 g. The mean operative time was 93 minutes, and length of hospital stay was 24 hours after surgery in 65% of cases. There were no cases of visceral injury. The mean postoperative complication was cellulitis of the vaginal vault that occurred in 11 cases (5%) that received antibiotics. Mean blood loss corresponded to 1.4 g/dL hemoglobin. From the analyzed sample, vaginal hysterectomy by vaginal route was feasible in 96.8% of patients, and abdominal conversion was necessary in 3.2%., Conclusion: Vaginal hysterectomy is a minimally invasive surgery, with fewer complications, and low morbidity. We believe that this procedure should be indicated to treat gynecological benign diseases.

Objective: To provide descriptive statistics on hysterectomy for benign gynecological conditions in the Netherlands and to analyze regional and temporal variations in hysterectomy rates and surgical routes., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Dutch hospitals., Population: All women with a hysterectomy for benign gynecological conditions in the Netherlands in 1995-2005., Methods: This study is based on an analysis of the Dutch registry of hospital admissions for 1995-2005., Main Outcome Measures: The age-adjusted hysterectomy rate and age- and diagnosis-adjusted proportion of vaginal hysterectomies for each Dutch healthcare region and time period., Results: The average annual crude hysterectomy rate for benign disease only, was 17.2 per 10,000 women of all ages. The vaginal route was chosen for 50.8% of the patients. During the study period, the number of hysterectomies for bleeding disorders declined almost 25%. Among 27 Dutch healthcare regions, the age-adjusted hysterectomy rates for bleeding disorders and pelvic organ prolapse varied 2.2- and 2.3-fold, respectively. The average annual age- and diagnosis-adjusted proportion of vaginal hysterectomies varied from 43.4 to 63.8%. The regional differences with regard to rate and proportion declined slightly over time., Conclusions: The Netherlands is among the countries with the lowest hysterectomy rates and the highest proportion of vaginal hysterectomies. The regional differences indicate that a further decrease in the hysterectomy rates and an increase in the proportion of vaginal hysterectomies are possible., (© 2012 The Authors Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica© 2012 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objective: To describe the use of vaginal, abdominal and laparoscopic hysterectomy in Denmark from 1999 to 2008, the influence of national guidelines and the patient and procedure-related characteristics associated with the choice of vaginal hysterectomy. Design. Nationwide register-based cohort study., Setting: Danish Hysterectomy Database and Danish National Patient Registry., Population: All women with a hysterectomy for benign indications in Denmark from 1999 to 2008., Methods: The incidence rate/100,000 women was used to describe the route of surgery in hysterectomies of 50,755 women. A multiple logistic regression analysis was done to examine the association between patient- and procedure-related characteristics and choice of surgical procedure including 20,486 women., Main Outcome Measures: Trends in surgical approach from 1999 to 2008. Patient- and surgery-related characteristics associated with vaginal hysterectomy from 2004 to 2008., Results: There was an overall increase in the use of vaginal hysterectomies from 12 to 34%, a decrease in the use of abdominal hysterectomies and a consistent number of laparoscopic hysterectomies. The number of vaginal hysterectomies varied between regions, ranging from 2 to 86%. The use of vaginal hysterectomy was not dependent on the total number of hysterectomies performed at the hospital. The characteristics associated with vaginal hysterectomy were higher age, smaller uterus size, indications for surgery (genital prolapse and severe uterine bleeding), less smoking and moderate alcohol intake., Conclusions: Vaginal hysterectomy has replaced abdominal hysterectomy increasingly but cannot be directly correlated to the implementation of national guidelines as there was large national variation. Several characteristics are significantly associated with vaginal hysterectomy., (© 2011 The Authors Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica© 2011 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Study Objective: To estimate the trends in various types of hysterectomy (abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic, and subtotal) and their distribution according to patient age, surgeon age, and hospital accreditation in Taiwan., Design: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2)., Setting: Population-based National Health Insurance (NHI) database., Patients: Women with NHI in Taiwan undergoing various types of hysterectomy to treat noncancerous lesions., Interventions: Data for this study were obtained from the Inpatient Expenditures by Admissions files of the NHI research database, released by the NHI program in Taiwan for 1996-2005., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 234,939 women who underwent various types of hysterectomy were identified for analysis. The number of hysterectomies performed annually remained stationary during the 10-year study. Total abdominal hysterectomies decreased significantly (77.33% in 1996 vs 45.68% in 2005), laparoscopic hysterectomies increased significantly (5.20% vs 40.40%), vaginal hysterectomies decreased (14.70% vs 8.86%), and subtotal abdominal hysterectomies increased (2.76% vs 5.06%). Laparoscopic hysterectomy was more commonly performed in middle-aged women; vaginal hysterectomy was more common in older women; and subtotal abdominal hysterectomy was more common in younger women. Laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed more commonly in regional hospitals (33.11%), followed by medical centers (30.17%) and local hospitals (17.78%). Laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed more commonly in not-for-profit hospitals (30.25%), followed by private hospitals (29.32%) and government-owned hospitals (25.91%)., Conclusion: There has been considerable change in the types of surgery used for hysterectomy in Taiwan over the past 10 years. As a minimally invasive approach, laparoscopic hysterectomy represents a profound change for both patients and surgeons., (Copyright © 2010 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In Finland, the number of hysterectomies during one decade has decreased by 34%. The national prospective FINHYST study in 1996 showed abdominal hysterectomy (AH) as being most common: 58%. In Finland since 2002, vaginal hysterectomy (VH) has been most preferred, with laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) surpassing AH in 2005., Methods: FINHYST 2006 is a national prospective hysterectomy study in which all hospitals collaborated from 1 January to 31 December 2006. Questionnaires, completed by gynaecologists, covered their experience, patient characteristics and surgical data., Results: The 5279 hysterectomies distributed by approaches were 44% VHs, 32% LHs and 24% AHs. Less than 2% were subtotal. The main indications for hysterectomy were myomas (33%), uterine prolapse (28%) and menorrhagia (21%). The main indication for VH was not related to uterine prolapse in 39%. Bilateral salpingo-ooforectomy was performed in 36% of AHs, 32% of LHs and 2% of VHs. Antibiotic prophylaxis was used in 97%, and thrombosis prophylaxis in 65%. Haemorrhage was least and operation time shortest with VH, and hospital stay and sick leave were shortest after LH., Conclusions: In Finland, less invasive approaches comprise 76% of hysterectomies. This trend has resulted nationally in shortening of hospital stay and of convalescence time.

Objective: To investigate the annual rates, types and indications for hysterectomy on benign indications in Sweden 1987-2003., Design: A nationwide register-based cohort study., Setting: The Swedish Inpatient Register., Population: All women hysterectomized for benign disease in Sweden from 1987 through 2003 (n=121,947)., Main Outcome Measure: Hysterectomy on benign indications calculated as proportions or rates/100,000 person-years., Results: From 1987 to 1999, the annual overall hysterectomy rate increased from 178 to 232/100,000 person-years. Thereafter, the overall hysterectomy rate declined and phased out around 210/100,000 person-years in 2003, a decrease of 11%. Comprising only 4% of hysterectomies performed in 1987, vaginal hysterectomy increased to 31% in 2003. Rates of vaginal hysterectomy by prolapse indication increased by a five-fold, whereas rates of vaginal hysterectomy by other benign indications increased by a near 20-fold. Total and subtotal abdominal hysterectomy decreased from 63% and 32%, respectively, in 1987, to 48% and 18% in 2003., Conclusion: The overall rate of hysterectomy on benign indications has remained reasonably stable in Sweden over the last decade. Major trends involved a considerable decrease in rates of abdominal hysterectomy, increased use of vaginal hysterectomy and increased number of hysterectomies performed for pelvic organ prolapse.

The final decision to perform a certain method of hysterectomy customarily mirrors experience and level of comfort with a particular surgical approach in the context of the patient's condition and indication for surgery. Given the morbidity and recovery associated with a laparotomic incision, every effort should be made to avoid abdominal hysterectomy. The best available evidence points to the advantage of the vaginal approach over other methods of hysterectomy for benign conditions. Regrettably, the state of education in residency programs is not providing a level of surgical competency to meet this charge. Whenever vaginal surgery is not an option, laparoscopically assisted hysterectomy offers the best alternative. Although the promises of supracervical hysterectomy have yet to be demonstrated, laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy may offer the least morbid alternative to vaginal hysterectomy.

Objective: To investigate the annual rates, types, and indications for hysterectomies performed for benign disease in Kaiser Permanente Northern California from 1994 to 2003., Methods: All women, 20 years or age or older, who were undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications in Kaiser Permanente Northern California from 1994 to 2003 were identified. We analyzed hysterectomy rates by type, indication, and age group. Changes over time were analyzed with the Cochran-Armitage test for linear trend., Results: From 1994 to 2003, there were 32,321 hysterectomies performed for benign indications. Hysterectomy rates showed a significant decline, from 4.01 per 1,000 women in 1994 to 3.41 per 1,000 women in 2003 (P for trend < .001). The relative proportions of all hysterectomies performed as laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) peaked at 13.0% in 1995 and then steadily declined to 3.9% in 2003 (P for trend < .001), whereas the relative proportion of subtotal abdominal hysterectomy increased from 6.9% in 1994 to 20.8% in 2003 (P for trend < .001). Hysterectomy rates declined 11.2% for uterine leiomyoma (relative risk [RR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83-0.95), 33.1% for endometriosis (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.59-0.76), and 18.6% for uterine prolapse (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72-0.92). The relative proportion performed for uterine leiomyoma was consistently greater than for all other indications combined., Conclusion: The rates of hysterectomy for benign indications are decreasing. The type of hysterectomy changed significantly, with LAVH performed less frequently and subtotal abdominal hysterectomy increasing in popularity. Uterine leiomyoma remains the most common indication for benign hysterectomy., Level of Evidence: II-2.

Objective: To determine the acceptability and outcome of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi., Design: A retrospective case analysis., Subjects: Two hundrend and twenty nine cases of laparoscopic assisted hysterectomy were undertaken at various hospitals in the presence of the principal author from May 2000 to December 2003. Of these 149 (65.06%) were performed at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. These cases have been reviewed, analysed and presented., Exclusions: All cases performed at the various other hospitals were excluded, along with those cases of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy which are now being performed by other consultants obstetricians and gynaecologists, on their own and who have now learnt the technique, Results: Over the last three years, 149 cases of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy were undertaken at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. Annual case load increased from three cases in 2000, to 71 cases by December, 2003. Fifty one percent of the patients were between 46 to 50 years of age, while 93.9% were para 2 + 0 and above. Menorrhagia was the presenting complaint in 55.7%. The operative procedure was performed in 91 to 120 minutes in 58.3% of the cases. Hospital stays were two nights in 95.3%. The complications encountered were bladder injury (3.4%), bowel injury (1.3%), port site herniation (0.67%) and a delayed recognition of bladder injury (0.67%)., Conclusion: In Kenya, laparoscopic surgery is gradually being accepted by gynaecologists and general surgeons. The conversion from total abdominal hysterectomy to laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy for benign uterine pathology is now becoming more popular amongst gynaecologists and patients. With time laparoscopic assistance during hysterectomy will become the norm.

In the 100 year long history of the abdominal radical operation of collum carcinoma, due to the continued clinical surgical and scientific work of several generations of physicians, abdominal radical operation with standardized pelvic lymphonodectomy has become the method of choice for surgical treatment of collum carcinoma since 1970. Vaginal radical operation in its various forms has since played only a very restricted role in surgical treatment of collum carcinoma. According to the opinion of the majority of cancer surgeons vaginal radical operation had to be abandoned in view of discontinuous spreading of carcinoma into the regional pelvic lymph nodes. Because of its simplicity vaginal radical operation would still be useful today for very old high-risk patients and very young women with early invasive collum carcinoma detected in cancer screening. In view of our knowledge of the lymph node problem in collum carcinoma, however, this can no longer be the vaginal radical operation of past generations. In order to prevent critical objections to vaginal radical operation, the early attempts of Stoeckel, Suboth Mitra, Bastiaanse, Navratil, Inguilla, and Akashi were resumed. Since 1989 attempts have been made to combine vaginal radical operation of collum carcinoma with laparoscopic pelvic or para-aortic lymphonodectomy. The development has passed the following stages: the development of laparoscopic pelvic and para-aortic lymphonodectomy based on staging criteria the combination of laparoscopic lymphonodectomy with vaginal radical operation of collum carcinoma the combination of laparoscopic lymphonodectomy with complete laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and only subsequent vaginal removal of organs.

A large number of vaginal hysterectomies are performed on an outpatient basis through ambulatory surgery units (ASU). Recognizing this trend, we researched the possibility of performing vaginal hysterectomies in our ASU and developed an outpatient vaginal hysterectomy protocol. The preoperative and postoperative education we provide to patients is the key to our protocol's success. After conducting patient satisfaction surveys, we reached the conclusion that outpatient vaginal hysterectomies are a successful alternative to inpatient vaginal hysterectomies for many of our patients.

Vaginal hysterectomy, as currently performed at the University of Vienna, was first described by Halban in 1932. From 1955 to 1985, a total of 9,967 hysterectomies were performed. The vaginal route was used for 6,078 (60.9 per cent) of these procedures. Sixty-four per cent of the women operated upon were multiparous, 27 per cent were uniparous and 8 per cent were nulliparous. A comparison of the periods 1955 to 1975 and 1976 to 1985 revealed the following trends: the incidence of uterine myomas (30.6 to 27.1 per cent), in situ carcinoma of the cervix (6.5 to 7.9 per cent) and endometrial carcinoma (1.4 to 0.6 per cent) remained largely constant. In the past decade, indications for positional abnormalities (uterine descent and prolapse) were encountered more often (27.6 to 41.6 per cent) than in the first observation period, while the incidence of recurrent metrorrhagia was found to decline (33.9 to 22.8 per cent). The most common complications included hemorrhage during the operation, lesions of the bladder, hemorrhage until 48 hours after surgical treatment and hemorrhage from days 2 to 14 postoperatively (around 0.5 per cent, respectively). During the second observation period, no postoperative fistulas developed. Two instances of tubal prolapse were seen. Laparotomy was done in four of 6,078 instances. Two patients died of septic complications. Whenever possible, we prefer vaginal hysterectomy because of its low complication rate, low mortality rate and low postoperative morbidity.

Progress has been made in the following aspects of vaginal hysterectomy: improvement of technique and reduction of the incidence of febrile morbidity, the length of hospitalization, and the postoperative retention of urine with associated repair. Vaginal hysterectomy should continue to have its widest application in women whose childbearing is complete and who have incapacitating hypermenorrhea and dysmenorrhea with or without small uterine leiomyomas or adenomyosis.

The recent history of vaginal hysterectomy in America is summarized to bring current trends into focus. A series of 252 vaginal hysterectomies is analyzed. The discussion deals with factors contributing to morbidity, the relative advantages of various techniques, and the recognition and management of complications.