[Vaginal hysterectomy at the department of gynecology of the university of Graz from 1955 to 1970 (author's transl)].

Report on 2309 vaginal hysterectomies. The leading indication for vaginal hysterectomy was benign disease of the uterus (54.4%). Utero-vaginal prolapse was the indication in approximately 32% of the patients. In 71.1% of the hysterectomies, the vaginal approach for removal of the uterus was selected in malignant and pre-malignant diseases. Of these cases 11.9% had carcinoma in situ and 2.7% had micro-invasive carcinoma of the cervix. 2.6% of these cases had carcinoma of the endometrium. In 69.9% of the cases the vaginal hysterectomy was combined with a colporrhaphy. Previous genital operations or laparotomies where no contra-indication to vaginal hysterectomy. Trauma to the urinary tract or the rectum occurred in 26 cases (1.02%). Post-operatively 3 urinary tract fistulas and 3 rectovaginal fistulas developed. The mortality was 0.51%. Among 272 cases of carcinoma in situ and 62 cases of micro-invasive carcinoma of the cervix treated by vaginal hysterectomy, one case developed a recurrent carcinoma in situ of the vaginal vault eight years after vaginal hysterectomy for carcinoma in situ. One patient treated for micro-invasive carcinoma of the cervix died four years following vaginal hysterectomy in another hospital of suspected pulmonary metastases. The diagnosis was not confirmed by autopsy. Simple total hysterectomy whenever possible by the vaginal approach is at present the maximal treatment in the University Department in Graz for carcinoma in situ and micro-invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix.