Vaginal Hysterectomy Research Articles

(094) Evaluation of Female Sexuality After Vaginal Hysterectomy in a Cohort of Tunisian Women

Abstract Introduction Researchers indicate that hysterectomy might adversely affect pelvic anatomy and therefore female sexuality. However, only a few studies focused on evaluating female sexuality after vaginal hysterectomy. Objective This study aimed to evaluate female sexual function after a vaginal hysterectomy. Methods This was a monocentric prospective study conducted in the gynecology-obstetrics department of Ben Arous regional hospital over a period of 5 years [January 2016-December 2020]. We included all patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy. Selected women received a preoperative evaluation of their sexual function using the Female sexual function index (FSFI). They were invited for two follow-ups at 12 and 24 months after surgery. The main outcomes measured were frequency of sexual intercourse, dyspareunia, orgasm, vaginal dryness, sexual desire, and FSFI scores. Results A total number of 109 women underwent vaginal hysterectomy over the study period. The mean age was 41 years ranging from 31 to 69 years. Only 79 patients completed the required follow-ups in order to evaluate their satisfaction and the impact of surgery on their sexuality. The percentage of women engaging in sexual intercourse increased significantly from 70.8% before vaginal hysterectomy (VH) to 77.21% and 75.9% at 12 and 24 months after respectively. The rate of dyspareunia dropped significantly from 40.5% before surgery to 5% and 3.8 % at 12 and 14 months after VH. The rate of women experiencing orgasm increased significantly from 63.2% before VH to 72.1% and 70.8 % after 12 and 24 months. Low sexual desire also decreased significantly from 10.1% before VH to 6.3% and 5% respectively at 12 and 24 months. The percentage of women experiencing satisfactory vaginal lubrication increased from 36.7% to 46.8% and 45.5%. Average FSFI significantly increased from 24.58 prior to the surgery to 26.82 and 27.55 at the 12 months and 24 months follow-ups respectively. Conclusions Female sexual function is a major cause of women's concern for scheduled hysterectomy. Our results showed a significant improvement in female sexual function after a vaginal hysterectomy. Therefore, the vaginal route for hysterectomy should be encouraged among middle-aged women as a minimally invasive technique that does not affect female sexual function or feminine shape. Disclosure No.

Is an enlarged fibroid uterus a contraindication for Non-Descent Vaginal Hysterectomy (NDVH)? Retrospective comparison between cohort whose uterine size ≥ 12 weeks and cohort whose uterine size less than 12 weeks underwent NDVH.

Is an enlarged fibroid uterus a contraindication for Non-Descent Vaginal Hysterectomy (NDVH)? Retrospective comparison between cohort whose uterine size ≥ 12 weeks and cohort whose uterine size less than 12 weeks underwent NDVH.

Optimizing Hysterectomy: A Prospective Comparative Analysis of Surgical Techniques and Their Impact on Women's Lives.

To investigate diverse hysterectomy techniques to determine their influence on patient outcomes, including pain levels, sexual function, anxiety, and quality of life. Of particular focus is the comparison between vessel sealing and traditional suturing in abdominal, vaginal, and laparoscopic hysterectomies. This study is unique in its comprehensive evaluation, considering patient satisfaction, recommendation rates, recovery times, and various other aspects. Our prospective cohort study adhered to ethical guidelines, involving a meticulous assessment of patients, including medical history, anxiety levels, pelvic pain, sexual function, and quality of life. Surgical methods were explained to patients, allowing them to actively participate in the decision-making process. Sociodemographic information was collected, and exclusion criteria were applied. Hysterectomy methods included total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), vaginal hysterectomy (VH), and a modified vaginal technique known as VH Mujas. Several parameters were recorded, including operation indications, uterine volume, hospital stay, operation duration, pre-operative and post-operative complications, and more. In all groups, a statistically significant increase was found in pre-operative-post-operative FSFI sexual function values (p < 0.001). The patient's basal Beck Anxiety Scale scores significantly decreased following the decision for vaginal surgery, both in the VH and VH Mujas groups (p < 0.05). However, Beck Anxiety Scale scores at patients' initial assessments significantly increased following the decision for abdominal and laparoscopic surgery (p < 0.001). According to the results of the SF-36 quality of life assessment, an increase was observed in all post-operative quality of life parameters in patients who underwent surgery with different methods due to VH (p < 0.05). Our comprehensive comparison of hysterectomy techniques demonstrated that VH, particularly when utilizing the Mujas technique, outperforms other hysterectomy methods regarding patient safety and post-operative satisfaction but also offers the benefit of minimal invasiveness. Notably, this is reflected in improved quality of life, enhanced sexual function, lower pain scores, and favorable cosmetic results. The success of a hysterectomy procedure depends on precise indications, surgical planning, proper patient selection, and effective communication. This study emphasizes the significance of these factors in achieving optimal outcomes. The development of specialized vascular closure devices can further enhance the feasibility of vaginal hysterectomy, making it a preferable choice in gynecological surgery. The study contributes valuable insights into selecting the most suitable hysterectomy method for patients and optimizing their recovery.

Patient Impression of Improvement 1 year After Sacrospinous Hysteropexy Versus Vaginal Hysterectomy in Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Stage 2 or Higher

Introduction and hypothesisPatient-reported outcomes are relevant outcomes in studies on pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery, as anatomical recurrence alone does not have a significant correlation with perceived improvement. In the present study, the patient’s impression of improvement after 1 year is studied after vaginal hysterectomy (VH) versus sacrospinous hysteropexy (SSH) in large cohorts from daily clinical practice. We hypothesize that there is no difference between the groups.MethodsThis is a secondary analysis on prospectively collected data in a multicenter cohort of patients who underwent VH or SSH for symptomatic POP. All patients had a POP-Q stage ≥ 2 in at least one compartment at baseline and were treated with VH or SSH between 2002 and 2019. The primary outcome was the patient-reported score on the patient global impression of improvement index (PGI-I) 1 year after surgery. The secondary outcome was a composite outcome of surgical success, defined as the absence of recurrent POP beyond the hymen with bothersome bulge symptoms and/or repeat surgery.ResultsA total of 378 women (196 VH and 182 SSH) were included. The median score on the PGI-I did not differ between VH and SSH. At 1 year post-operatively, 77 women after VH (73%) and 77 women after SSH (75%) considered their condition (very) much improved (p = 0.86). There was no difference in composite outcome of surgical success (126 out of 137 women [92%] after VH, 118 out of 125 women [94%] after SSH; p = 0.44).ConclusionsOur study shows that there was no difference in the type of surgery, VH or SSH, with regard to the patient’s impression of improvement 1 year postoperatively in a large cohort from daily clinical practice.

The relationship between socioeconomic status and perinatal outcomes in in vitro fertilization conceptions

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether socioeconomic status has an impact on perinatal outcomes in in-vitro-fertilization pregnancies. We hypothesize that with greater coverage there may be an alleviation of the financial burden of IVF which can facilitates application of evidence-based practices. BackgroundIn-vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most used assisted reproductive technology in the United States, with growing efficiency and demand for in-vitro fertilization. Certain states have mandated coverage that enable low-income individuals to undergo in-vitro fertilization treatment. Study DesignA retrospective population-based observational study was conducted in accordance with the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) database over the six-year period from 2008 to 2014 examining 10,000 in-vitro-fertilization deliveries. Maternal outcomes of interest included preterm pre-labor rupture of membranes (PPROM), preterm birth (i.e., before 37 weeks of gestation), placental abruption, Caesarean Section (C/S), operative vaginal delivery, spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD), maternal infection, chorioamnionitis, hysterectomy, and postpartum hemorrhage. Neonatal outcomes included small for gestational age (SGA) defined as birth weight less than tenth percentile, intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), and congenital anomalies. ResultsOur study found that socioeconomic status did not have a statistically relevant effect on perinatal outcomes in women who underwent in-vitro-fertilization to conceive after adjusting for the potential confounding effects of maternal demographic, pre-existing clinical characteristics, and comorbidities. ConclusionThe literature suggests that in states with mandated in-vitro-fertilization coverage, there are better perinatal outcomes due in part to greater utilization of best IVF practices, such as single-embryo transfers. Moreover, the quality of medical care in states with coverage is in the highest quartile in the country. Therefore, our findings of equivalent perinatal outcomes in IVF care irrelevant of socio-economic status suggests that a possibly of lack of access to quality medical care may be a factor in the health disparities usually seen in lower socioeconomic status individuals.

Impact of Mannitol Bladder Distension in the Intraoperative Detection of Ureteral Kinking During Pelvic Floor Surgery

Introduction and HypothesisUreteral injuries are the most feared complications of gynecological surgery and therefore intraoperative recognition is of the utmost importance. Intraoperative cystoscopy represents the diagnostics of choice to investigate ureteral patency thanks to the direct visualization of ureteral flows after administration of infusion mediums. In this study, we aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of saline versus mannitol intraoperative cystoscopy in terms of false negatives in a large cohort of patients.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data of patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy and high uterosacral ligament suspension for POP. Patients were divided in two groups based on the use of saline or mannitol medium for intraoperative cystoscopy. Postoperative daily control of serum creatinine was performed until discharge, as well as urinary tract imaging, in symptomatic patients.ResultsA total of 925 patients underwent vaginal hysterectomy followed by high USL suspension for POP. Saline and mannitol medium were used in 545 patients and 380 patients respectively. Postoperative ureteral injuries were identified in 12 patients, specifically in 2% of the saline group and in 0.3% of the mannitol group.ConclusionsThe use of mannitol instead of saline as a bladder distension medium was able to significantly reduce the occurrence of postoperative ureteral sequelae.

Decreasing post hysterectomy surgical site infections with the implementation of a hysterectomy-specific bundle

Surgical site infections (SSI) are a common complication of hysterectomy. Surgical bundles have been shown to reduce SSIs. Here we describe a bundle that was used to combat an abnormal rise in SSI events that resulted in a greater than 75% reduction at our institution. A hysterectomy-specific bundle was developed based on the prior success of SSI prevention bundles. Development involved longitudinal education and training to ensure accuracy and compliance. All inpatient abdominal, laparoscopic, and vaginal hysterectomies performed at a tertiary referral center were included. The preintervention, intervention, and postintervention periods were each one year in length. SSI rates were peer-reviewed monthly and overall trends were tracked, including compliance with bundle guidelines. Preintervention, an abnormal rise in SSI was identified at 3.76%. During the intervention, 309 inpatient hysterectomies were completed. In this period, 6 posthysterectomy SSI events occurred (3.76% vs 1.94%, P=.21). Four SSIs followed laparotomy and 2 followed laparoscopy. Compliance during the intervention period ranged from 79% to 89% with a mean of 85%. In the postintervention period, there were 6 SSI following 689 hysterectomies (3.76% vs 0.87%, P=.004). The majority of SSI occurred after abdominal hysterectomy. Implementation of a hysterectomy-specific surgical bundle allowed for a significant reduction in post hysterectomy SSI during a yearlong intervention period and a sustained, further reduction in the postintervention period.

Procedure-specific simulation for vaginal surgery training: Arandomized controlled trial.

Vaginal surgery has a superior outcome profile compared with other surgical routes, yet skills are declining because of low case volumes. Graduating residents' confidence and preparedness for vaginal surgery has plummeted in the past decade. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether procedure-specific simulation skills, vs usual training, result in improved operative competence. We completed a randomized controlled trial of didactic and procedural training via low fidelity vaginal surgery models for anterior repair, posterior repair (PR), vaginal hysterectomy (VH), recruiting novice gynecology residents at three academic centers. We evaluated performance via global rating scale (GRS) in the real operating room and for corresponding procedures by attending surgeon blinded to group. Prespecified secondary outcomes included procedural steps knowledge, overall performance, satisfaction, self-confidence and intraoperative parameters. A priori sample size estimated 50 residents (20% absolute difference in GRS score, 25% SD, 80% power, alpha 0.05). gov: Registration no. NCT05887570. We randomized 83 residents to intervention or control and 55 completed the trial (2011-23). Baseline characteristics were similar, except for more fourth-year control residents. After adjustment of confounders (age, level, baseline knowledge), GRS scores showed significant differences overall (mean difference 8.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2-16.1; p = 0.044) and for VH (mean difference 12.0; 95% CI: 1.8-22.3; p = 0.02). The intervention group had significantly higher procedural steps knowledge and self-confidence for VH and/or PR (p < 0.05, adjusted analysis). Estimated blood loss, operative time and complications were similar between groups. Compared to usual training, procedure-specific didactic and low fidelity simulation modules for vaginal surgery resulted in significant improvements in operative performance and several other skill parameters.

Total vNOTES hysterectomy versus conventional total laparoscopic hysterectomy in virgin transgender men

Background and aim Comparison of the applicability, safety, and surgical outcomes of total vaginal NOTES hysterectomy (TVNH) using natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, which is considered a natural orifice surgery for hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (HBSO) in virgin transgender men, with conventional total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). Material and methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2019 and 2021. The results of transgender male individuals who underwent HBSO operations using TVNH (n = 21) were compared with those who underwent operations using TLH (n = 62). Results TVNH was performed in 21 individuals, while TLH was performed in 62 individuals. Patients in the TVNH approach group had a longer operation duration than those in the TLH group (p = .001). Patients in the TVNH group experienced less pain at two hours (5 ± 1.56), six hours (4 ± 1.57), 12 h (2 ± 0.91), and 24 h (1 ± 0.62) postoperatively (p = .001). The postoperative hospitalization duration was shorter in the TVNH group (1.6 ± 1.01) than in the TLH group (2.9 ± 0.5) (p = .001). Conclusions For the HBSO operation of female-to-male transgender individuals, TVNH, which is completely endoscopically performed, can be preferred and safely conducted as an alternative surgical method to conventional laparoscopy.

Vaginal cuff dehiscence with small bowel prolapse 10 years after vaginal hysterectomy

Vaginal cuff dehiscence with small bowel prolapse 10 years after vaginal hysterectomy

Minimally Invasive Sacrohysteropexy Versus Vaginal Hysterectomy With Uterosacral Ligament Suspension for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Prospective Randomized Non-Inferiority Trial

Study ObjectiveTo investigate whether minimally invasive Sacrohysteropexy (SH) is non-inferior to Vaginal hysterectomy (VH) with uterosacral ligament suspension (USLS) in women with symptomatic uterovaginal prolapse. DesignProspective, randomized, non-inferiority study SettingTertiary university-based hospital. PatientsA total of 146 patients with uterovaginal prolapse between July 2016 and August 2019. InterventionsPatients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either laparoscopic or robotic SH surgery or VH with USLS surgery. Measurements and Main ResultsThe primary outcome was prolapse recurrence at 1 year after surgery, defined as prolapse ≥ stage 2 evaluated using the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system, bothersome vaginal bulge symptoms, or retreatment for prolapse. The secondary outcomes included operation time, estimated blood loss, hospital stay, operation-related complications, pain intensity, quality of life, and activities of daily living. Of 146 women who underwent randomization, 73 in the SH group and 73 in the VH with USLS group were analyzed. SH was non-inferior for recurrence compared with VH with USLS (16.4% vs.15.8%, 95% confidence interval: -13.0%, 14.2%). Operating duration and transvaginal length were significantly longer in the SH group, while there were no significant differences in the estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, or postoperative complication rates. Although perioperative pain intensity was greater from 1 week to 1 month in the SH group, the quality of life and activities of daily living did not differ between the groups throughout postoperative year 1. ConclusionLaparoscopic or robotic SH was non-inferior to VH with USLS for the recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse at the 1-year follow-up.

Vaginal hysterectomy at federal teaching hospital, Katsina: A five-year review.

Even though the vaginal route is said to be the gynaecologist route of surgery, abdominal hysterectomy remains the predominant method of uterine removal in most parts of the world, despite the evidence of the safety of vaginal hysterectomy. The study aims to determine the prevalence, socio-demographic variables, indications as well as outcome of vaginal hysterectomy at Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Katsina, during the 5-year study period. A five-year retrospective study on vaginal hysterectomy was conducted in Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2019. The rate of hysterectomies (Abdominal & Vaginal) was 21.6% of the total major gynaecological surgeries performed during the study period. Vaginal hysterectomy accounted for 6.7%. The mean age and parity of the patients were 56.06+/- 9.55 years and 10.17+/- 4.57 respectively. The commonest indication was Utero-vaginal Prolapse (88.9%) and 80.5% (29) of the patients had no complications. Most of the patients (94.4%) were discharged within 7 days of surgery and there was no fatality. The rate of vaginal hysterectomy in our centre is low. Most of the patients were grand multiparous with the main indication being Uterovaginal prolapse. It is associated with favourable outcomes and very low complication rates.

Outcomes of Hysterectomy in Women with Prior Cesarean Section: Retrospective Analysis of Non-Descent Vaginal Hysterectomy (NDVH) Versus Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) in Benha University Hospital

Outcomes of Hysterectomy in Women with Prior Cesarean Section: Retrospective Analysis of Non-Descent Vaginal Hysterectomy (NDVH) Versus Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) in Benha University Hospital

A comparative clinical study between laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy versus nondescent vaginal hysterectomy in benign pathological conditions

Abstract Background: The need of hour is an ideal hysterectomy surgery which has shorter operative time and shorter duration of hospital stay, early resumption to work, avoidance of disfiguring scar on abdomen, and less postoperative morbidities. Nondescent vaginal hysterectomy (NDVH) and laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) are both minimally invasive surgeries with more benefits than total abdominal hysterectomy. Objective: To compare NDVH and LAVH in terms of operating time for surgery, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative, and postoperative complications. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based prospective comparative study was carried out among 50 cases requiring hysterectomy. Detailed history was collected and thorough examination was conducted in 25 women who underwent LAVH and 25 women who underwent NDVH as per the standard operating guidelines. Parameters such as blood loss, duration of surgery, duration of hospital stay, intraoperative and postoperative complications, pain score, and time taken for ambulation were compared in the two groups. Results: Both the groups were comparable in terms of age, body mass index, comorbidities present, size of the uterus, past history of surgery, and diagnosis (P &gt; 0.01). Both the groups were comparable for intraoperative or postoperative complications (P &gt; 0.01). The mean blood loss, time taken for ambulation, pain score, and duration of hospital stay were significantly lesser (P &lt; 0.01) in the LAVH group compared to the NDVH group even though the duration of surgery was significantly (P &lt; 0.01) more in this group. Conclusion: We conclude that LAVH has more advantages over NDVH and should be incorporated in selected patients requiring hysterectomy.

Retrospective analysis of hysterectomies done for benign conditions at a tertiary care hospital in South India over a two year period

According to the statistics, hysterectomy is the most common procedure done in South India with the highest rates in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The present study was carried out to analyze patient characteristics, common causes and route of procedure, rate of concurrent oophorectomy, and complication rates. A retrospective study was conducted using medical records. The patient characteristics who had undergone hysterectomy for benign conditions were noted in a questionnaire along with the indication for surgery, operative findings, comorbidities, and complications. Overall, 243 patients were recruited of whom the majority (62%) had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy. The mean age was 43.4 ± 9.6 years. The most common cause for the procedure was abnormal uterine bleeding (78%). Twenty percentage had associated comorbidities during admission. The complication rate was 13.5%, and postoperative fever was the most common. Concurrent oophorectomy was done in 46% of cases. Increased age and parity were in more favor of vaginal hysterectomy (P = 0.00). The mean length of stay (LOS) in the hospital was 6.4 ± 2.9 days and was influenced by surgical procedure (P = 0.016), occurrence of complications (P = 0.00), and concurrent oophorectomy (P = 0.00). We conclude that the route of the procedure, the presence of complications, and concurrent oophorectomy influenced the LOS in the hospital.

Opportunistic salpingectomy at the time of vaginal hysterectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite the rising rates of opportunistic salpingectomy at the time of surgery for non-malignant conditions, salpingectomy is not widely adopted during vaginal hysterectomy (VH) and has not been extensively investigated. The aim of the primary study was to determine the feasibility of bilateral opportunistic salpingectomy at the time of VH. Secondary aims included surgical outcomes, factors associated with patient selection, and the prevalence of incidental tubal malignancies. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we searched Pubmed, Embase and ClinicalTrials.gov databases from inception to September 1, 2023, using relevant keywords. Original articles with no language restriction reporting outcomes of women undergoing planned VH with opportunistic salpingectomy, were considered eligible. Studies including patients undergoing VH with and without opportunistic salpingectomy were also included. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess quality of observational studies. DerSimonian-Laird random effects meta-analysis was performed and pooled effect estimates and proportions with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Seven observational cohort studies including 4808 women undergoing opportunistic salpingectomy at the time of VH and 10 295 patients undergoing VH alone were selected. The pooled proportion of success was 81.83 per 100 observations (95% CI: 75.35-87.54). Opportunistic salpingectomy at the time of VH, when feasible, was associated with a significant reduction in intraoperative complications (OR 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01, -0.37, P = 0.03) and total operative time (95% CI: -17.80, -1.07, P = 0.03) compared to those where it failed. Successful salpingectomy was significantly hindered by nulliparity (OR 0.12, 95% CI: -17.69, -1.21, P < 0.001) and favored by pelvic organ prolapse (OR 3.20, 95% CI: 1.35, 7.55, P = 0.008). Immunohistochemical tubal abnormalities were found in 13/579 (2.1%) patients. The overall quality of the evidence, according to the GRADE assessment, was low. Opportunistic salpingectomy is safe, effective, and feasible at the time of VH. Nulliparity and pelvic organ prolapse are factors potentially influencing surgical outcomes.

Same-Day Discharge is Safe, Feasible Following Vaginal Hysterectomy with Apical Suspension.

Studies involving minimally invasive hysterectomy and robotic sacrocolpopexy have demonstrated safety and feasibility of same-day discharge. There are limited data, however, on same-day discharge outcomes for vaginal hysterectomy and pelvic reconstruction. This study aimed to compare 30 and 90-day surgical outcomes between same-day discharge versus overnight stay following vaginal hysterectomy and apical suspension. This retrospective study evaluated surgeries performed over two time periods. Overnight stay was standard between December 2018 and February 2020. Same-day discharge was standard from December 2020 to February 2022. All patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with apical suspension were included. The primary outcome was to determine if there was an increase in 30-day readmission rates. Secondary outcomes included emergency department visits and reoperations within 30 days, the previous variables at 90 days, and the rate for successful same-day discharge. A total of 324 patients were analyzed over the 30 months: 149 (46%) in the overnight stay group and 175 (54%) in the same-day discharge group. At 30 days, no difference was found between groups for readmissions (2.7% vs 4.0%, p = 0.56), emergency department visits (14.8% vs 14.9%, p = 1.0), or reoperations (2.0% vs.1.7%, p = 1.0). At 90 days, outcomes were also similar. Same-day discharge as standard practice was successful in 80% of patients. In this retrospective two cohort study, the safety of same-day discharge following vaginal hysterectomy with apical suspension was demonstrated with no increased risk of 30 or 90-day readmissions, emergency visits, or reoperation rates. The majority (80%) of patients were discharged on the day of surgery, suggesting feasibility of this model.

Propofol Versus Dexmedetomidine for Conscious Sedation During Vaginal Hysterectomy With Pre-emptive Local Anesthesia: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Hysterectomy is the most frequent gynecological surgery. Vaginal hysterectomy (VH) seems to be related to favorable perioperative outcomes compared to abdominal or laparoscopic approaches. As the population ages, anesthesia that is safer for the elderly, such as local anesthesia (LA) with conscious sedation, is gaining popularity and is related to favorable outcomes in patients' recovery compared to general or regional anesthesia. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus propofol for women undergoing VH for uterine prolapse under LA and conscious sedation. A prospective study on 40 women with uterine prolapse stage ≥3 who had VH under LA with conscious sedation under either dexmedetomidine (n=20) or propofol (n=20) was performed. A standardized surgical approach with continuous hemodynamic monitoring and sedation assessment using the Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) was conducted. The primary endpoint of the study was to determine the percentage of patients receiving intraoperative fentanyl. Analysis of outcomes demonstrated a significant reduction in the proportion of patients requiring intraoperative rescue fentanyl (35% vs. 5%, respectively, p=0.04) and in postoperative pain scores, with more patients achieving an optimal RSS score of 3 in the dexmedetomidine group. Based on the findings of the present study, dexmedetomidine offered superior analgesia and patient comfort compared to propofol, suggesting a favorable anesthetic profile for VH under LA.

The impact of preoperative anxiety on pain and analgesia consumption in women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy with general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia.

To assess the impact of preoperative anxiety on pain and analgesic consumption in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy (VH) with general and spinal anesthesia. A total of 200 participants, including 100 undergoing vaginal hysterectomy with general anesthesia (group 1) and 100 with spinal anesthesia (group 2), were enrolled. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used for the postoperative pain intensity. The 1st hour, 6th hour, 12th hour, and 18th hour VAS scores were higher in vaginal hysterectomy with general anesthesia than in vaginal hysterectomy with spinal anesthesia. Although participants undergoing VH with spinal anesthesia (preoperative state anxiety inventory score > 45) had lower pain intensity scores in the first 18 hours compared to those undergoing VH with general anesthesia, their postoperative analgesic requirements were similar.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on changing the ratio of abdominal, vaginal, and laparoscopic hysterectomies

Introduction/Objective. Coronavirus pandemic caused most hospitals in the world to suspend regular activities. The aim of this study was to analyze pandemic influence on patients who underwent hysterectomy with classical (abdominal) and minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic and vaginal approach) at the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics of the University Medical Centre of Serbia. Methods. There were 2446 hysterectomies for five-year period. The study analyzed number and types of hysterectomies before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Results. The total number of operated patients was most decreased in the first year of the pandemic. During pandemic, the number of vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies did not change, whereas there was an increase in the number of abdominal hysterectomies. Statistical significance (p &lt; 0.01) was found between abdominal and vaginal as well as between abdominal and endoscopic hysterectomies. Conclusion. The global pandemic impact on care of symptomatic patients with COVID-19 has led to the redeployment of staff and resources, which has significantly reduced the total number of operations in many hospitals around the world.