title: Which parameters may influence the duration of hospitalization after vaginal hysterectomy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the variables that may affect the duration of hospitalization after vaginal hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 11-year retrospective analysis was performed on data derived from 197 patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy due to non-malignant pathology at a tertiary care center between January 2000 to November 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the patients in our series was 60.9±11.1 with a duration of hospitalization of 11.6±6.1 days after vaginal hysterectomy. The grouping variables consisted of age, number of pregnancies, abortions, parities and the presence of intra or postoperative complications. Advanced age (>60), increased number of pregnancies (>5) and parities (>5) and occurrence of intra or postoperative complications were found to be correlated with the duration of hospitalization after vaginal hysterectomy. Categorical variables were analyzed by Pearson's chi square or the Fisher exact test. The Mann Whitney U test was used to compare groups, while the correlation of variables was assessed with the Spearman Correlation Analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaginal hysterectomy is a safe and effective procedure. Advanced age, increased number of pregnancies and parities and occurrence of intra or postoperative complications may prolong the duration of hospitalization after surgery. Increased experience, careful surgical technique and adherence to aseptic principles may improve the cost-effectivity and decrease the duration of hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice Ender
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Soydinç
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Sıddık
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Evsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Başaranoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yalınkaya
keywords: Pelvic prolapse; duration of hospitalization; surgery; treatment; vaginal hysterectomy