title: Common postoperative pulmonary complications after hysterectomy for benign indications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications after hysterectomy for benign indications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications at the Cleveland Clinic from Jan. 1, 2001, to Dec. 31, 2009. Exclusion criteria incorporated patients who underwent hysterectomy for premalignant or malignant conditions. Pulmonary complications were defined as postoperative pneumonia, respiratory failure, atelectasis, and pneumothorax based on International classification of diseases, ninth revision, codes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 9-year study period, 3226 women underwent hysterectomy for benign indications (abdominal, 38.4%; vaginal, 39.3%; laparoscopic, 22.3%). Ten of the 3226 women (0.3%; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.57%) who underwent hysterectomy were identified with postoperative pulmonary complications. Among the different types of hysterectomy, the incidence of pulmonary complications was not different (total abdominal hysterectomy, 0.9%; vaginal hysterectomy, 0.12%; laparoscopic hysterectomy, 0.9%; P = .8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications after hysterectomy for benign indications is low.
authors.affiliation: Center for Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Tyler M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Muffly
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors