Review of gynaecological hysterectomies at a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

There were 605 gynaecological surgeries and 79 (13.1%) hysterectomies. Out of this number only 64 case notes were available forthis study. Thirty seven (57.8%) were abdominal hysterectomies, 27 (42.2%) were vaginal while there was no laparoscopic hysterectomy.Overall, the commonest indication for hysterectomy was utero-vaginal prolapse (45.3%) followed by uterine fibroid while the commonestindication for abdominal hysterectomy was uterine fibroid (56.8%). Abdominal hysterectomy was performed most commonly in the age groupof 45-49 years (45.9%). It was combined with bilateral oophorectomy in the age group of 46-50 years. There was need for blood transfusion in11 patients (29.7%). The average duration of hospital stay was 8.9 days. Most hysterectomies were done for patients with parity of 5 and above(67.2%). The peak age range for vaginal hysterectomy was between 60 and 64 years; Oophorectomy during vaginal hysterectomy was possiblein only one patient. The combined incidence of oophorectomy was 32.8%. The commonest post operative complication was urinary tractinfection (18.5%). The difference between the number of days post surgery for abdominal and vaginal procedures is not significant (p>0.05).There was no subtotal hysterectomy