title: Hysterectomy throughout history.
abstract: Hysterectomy, which is one of the most common surgeries performed on women, dates back to ancient times. The history of hysterectomy comprises biographies of many humble men and the significant individual efforts that they made to fight the skepticism of the medical communities of their times. Many of the pioneers were ignored. Although there are a number of alternatives to hysterectomy available, it remains one of the most frequently performed gynaecological operations. The introduction of antisepsis, anaesthesia, antibiotics and blood transfusion made hysterectomy a safe procedure. Nowadays, we distinguish three different surgical approaches to hysterectomy: vaginal, abdominal and laparoscopic. The limitations of conventional laparoscopy have led to the development of robotic surgery, which has evolved over the past decade from simple adjustable arms to support cameras in laparoscopic surgery to more sophisticated four-armed machines now being in use worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Radmila
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sparić
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hudelist
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berisava
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gudović
authors.forename: Snezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buzadzić
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods