ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY: A COMMON SURGICAL PROCEDURE FOR BENIGN GYNAECOLOGICAL DISEASE

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the pattern of abdominal hysterectomies in our set up with regard to cause, type and complications associated with this procedure. DESIGN: A descriptive study. SETTING: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Units II and IV), Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad/ Jamshoro, Sindh - Pakistan; from March 2002 to December 2005. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were women between 35 and 55 years of age in whom hysterectomy was done for benign lesions. Data was collected through a pre-designed proforma. RESULTS: Total number of patients admitted during study period at the department were 3519, of which 1684 (47.85%) had the gynaecological disease. Of these 1684 patients, 776(46.08%) required surgery. Majority of these women (61.86%) were in age group 30-40 years. Two hundred eighty-seven women undergone major surgery which included abdominal hysterectomy in 127 (44.25%) cases. Leiomyoma was the main cause for abdominal hysterectomy. Total abdominal hysterectomy only was performed in 78 (61.41%) cases. Immediate complications associated with surgery were rare while pelvic pain was more frequent late complication. CONCLUSION: Hysterectomy rate is high in our set up and is commonly performed for benign lesions.