1700 vaginal hysterectomies. In a general surgical practice.

1700 consecutive vaginal hysterectomies performed or attempted in a general surgical practice between January 1943 and May 2 1968 in Sheboygan Wisconsin are discussed. Average age was 52.7. The main indications for the operation were varying degrees of prolapse bleeding stress incontinence fibroids and cervical disease. Performance of the Mayo type of vaginal hysterectomy was discontinued because of the postoperative development of an enterocele or a rectocele or both. A lengthly description of the procedure usually used is included. Routine prehysterectomy curettage is thought to be uncessary and in some cases harmful since an otherwise small curable lesion may spread. Average hospital stay was 8.2 days. Abdominal hysterectomy was seen to be necessary in 5 of the cases because of large fibroids preventing safe morcellation (2) fixation of uterus to anterior abdominal wall to an unusual extent (2) or dense adhesions from endometriosis (1). Postoperative hemorrhage required packing or additional suture in 48 patients. Common minor complications included fever and urinary retention.