title: The Decreasing Length of Hospital Stay following Vaginal Hysterectomy: 2011-2012 vs. 1996-1997 vs. 1995-1996.
abstract: Background/Definition of the Problem:In recent years, postoperative management has changed towards rapid mobilisation, early oral feeding and rapid rehabilitation (known as Fast-Track or Enhanced Recovery Concepts). This study analysed the postoperative length of stay after vaginal hysterectomy in 3 different periods of time.Material and Methods:In the period October 2011 - September 2012, 75 patients underwent vaginal hysterectomies (± adnexectomy); another 114 vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomies with additional operations (e.g. prolapse surgery and incontinence surgery) and malignancies were not included. The time periods August 1995 - July 1996 (n = 50) and October 1996 - September 1997 (n = 96) served as a comparison. Reducing the length of stay was not an explicit goal.Results:The median postoperative stay was shortened from 7 (5-9) to 5 (3-15) or 3 (0-5) days (p < 0.001). The recovery rate remained unchanged at 2.7 % (n = 2), cf. 2 % (n = 1) and 3.1 % (n = 3). In 40/75 cases (53.3 %), the surgery took place on the day of admission.Conclusion:The length of hospital stay after vaginal hysterectomy has more than halved since 1995/1996 and continues to decline. This development occurred without a shortened stay being an explicit goal of the clinic. The shortened length of stay does not appear to have a negative impact on postoperative complications and recovery rate.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reif
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Drobnitsch
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aigmüller
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laky
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamussino
keywords: hysterectomy; length of hospital stay; recovery rate; surgery; vaginal
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