The role of vaginal hysterectomy in the aged woman.
The results of vaginal hysterectomy in 85 women over the age of 65 were reviewed. All the patients' complaints were attributable to uterine prolapse but the frequency of occurrence was not proportional to the given patients' degree of disability. Spinal anesthesia was used the most frequently, as it is usually not contraindicated in the elderly. Certain postoperative complications were encountered, but these did not cause prolongation of the hospital stay. No postoperative deaths occurred. Most of the patients showed complete improvement in terms of personal activity. It is concluded that vaginal hysterectomy for uterine prolapse is a safe and beneficial operation in the elderly and is preferable to the more limited procedures employed years earlier.
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*