Evaluating Outcomes of Benign Hysterectomy in the Presence or Absence of Complex Surgical Features.

Objective: This study evaluated outcomes following hysterectomies performed for benign indications in surgeries that meet criteria for complexity, compared to those that did not. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study of hysterectomies performed for benign indications compared outcomes in surgeries deemed complex versus noncomplex. Surgery was defined as complex if one or more of the following factors were present: uterine weight >250 g; surgical history of 2 prior cesarean deliveries; or prior laparoscopy or laparotomy for abdominal myomectomy, endometriosis resection, lysis of adhesions, or other surgery on a pelvic organ. Surgeon-level factors were evaluated, including minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH) use, postoperative length of stay (LOS), and complication rates. Results: From January 2017 to August 2021, 833 women had hysterectomies for benign indications; 603 hysterectomies were complex. These hysterectomies by low-volume surgeons were more likely to have complications than by high-volume surgeons (15.6% versus 5.4%; p < 0.001). These operations by high-volume surgeons were more-frequently MIH (83.4% versus 48.7%; p = 0.009), had fewer blood losses ≥500 mL (1.2% versus 8.0%; p < 0.001), and were less likely to need overnight admissions (74.9% versus 94.5%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Complex hysterectomies performed for benign indications by high-volume gynecologic surgeons lead to fewer complications and shorter LOS, and are more likely to be performed with a minimally invasive approach. (J GYNECOL SURG 39:229) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]