Abdominal Hysterectomy for Benign Gynaecological Conditions in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed major procedures in contemporary gynaecological practice worldwide. In our centre, the procedure which is mostly carried out via the abdominal route and mainly for benign gynaecological conditions had never been evaluated. The aim of the study was to document the prevalence, indications and morbidity associated with it. This was a 5-year retrospective analysis of all total abdominal hysterectomies for benign conditions carried out between 2006 and 2010 in the centre. A total of 761 gynaecological procedures were performed. Four hundred and sixteen (54.7%) were major operations, 119(28.6%) being hysterectomies. There were 81 total abdominal hysterectomies carried out for benign gynaecological conditions constituting 10.6% of all gynaecological surgeries and 19.5% of all major gynaecological operations. The age range of patients was 30 - 64 years with peak age range of 40 - 44 years (32.4%). Most (59.4%) of the patients were of the Ibibio tribe (59.4%), married (51.3%), employed (>90%) and grand-multiparous (58.1%). Uterine fibroid was the commonest indication (55.4%). The mean length of hospital stay was 8.8 days, with majority hospitalized for 6 to 10 days (83.7%) postoperatively. Twenty-nine patients (39.2%) had postoperative complications: pyrexia (20.3%) and wound infection (14.9%) being the commonest. There was no case-fatality. The procedure is very safe in our centre; however there is need for a re-appraisal of our pre-operative evaluation and antibiotic prophylaxis in order to reduce postoperative anaemia and pyrexia associated with this procedure.

Key words: Hysterectomy, Abdominal, Gynaecological, Benign.