Hysterectomy: surgical route and complications

Objectives: To compare the morbidity associated with abdominal, vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies in a group of patients suitable for anyone of these surgical routes. Study design: Retrospective analysis of 1000 consecutive hysterectomies. Results: The 513 patients were deemed to be suitable for hysterectomy by anyone of the three surgical routes. The overall complication rates were 34, 24 and 21% for abdominal, vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomy, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that the morbidity was similar when confounding factors were allowed for, in particular the use of peri-operative antibiotics. Conclusions: The route of hysterectomy is not a major determining factor of peri-operative complications when other confounding variables are taken into account. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.