Multiple diagnoses and procedures during hysterectomy.
Seldom does a gynecologic patient, who needs a hysterectomy, have a single diagnosis. Among 2892 gynecologic patients who needed a hysterectomy, only 127 had a single diagnosis. The rest had two to ten separate diagnoses. Therefore, 96.4% also needed other gynecologic procedures at the time of hysterectomy--4842 other operative procedures during 1925 abdominal hysterectomies, and 2356 associated operative procedures during 864 vaginal hysterectomies. Prior to the time of hysterectomy, 15.07% of these patients had had major gynecologic operations, but after hysterectomy (+ +) only 2.9% needed any subsequent gynecologic operations. We conclude that among gynecologic patients, chart reviews or coding systems which are based only on a single diagnosis, or computer systems which are limited to 2, 3, or 4 diagnoses, will usually be incomplete, inaccurate, and misleading.
Ranney
B
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Dakota, School of Medicine, Yankton 57078.
D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D010052:Ovariectomy