title: Transvaginal hysterectomy for enlarged leiomyomata uteri in a Medical Department Activity environment.
abstract: During a 6-year period, 119 patients with enlarged leiomyomata uteri underwent a transvaginal hysterectomy at this medium-size Medical Department Activity using morcellation to debulk the uterus. One hundred seventeen underwent successful removal of the uterus with the use of various morcellation techniques to reduce the uterine size. Two patients required conversion to an abdominal procedure. A retrospective review of each operative report was completed, and the findings are presented in this study. There was a low morbidity rate in this series, with no deaths. Transvaginal hysterectomy with debulking of enlarged leiomyomata using morcellation is a safe alternative to abdominal hysterectomy in a Medical Department Activity environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, DeWitt Army Hospital, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wittich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*