UROLOGIC INJURY DURING VAGINAL HYSTERECTOMY - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Recent reports have addressed the frequency of urologic injury during abdominal surgery. This retrospective case-control study was done to define the risk of urologic injury during vaginal hysterectomy. Over a 9 1/2-year period, 978 vaginal hysterectomies were performed. Seven cases were associated with an inadvertent cystotomy. No ureteral injuries occurred. The incidence of bladder injury during vaginal hysterectomy for our study population was 0.72%. Patients' medical and surgical histories as well as preoperative diagnostic studies and operative technique were analyzed, and no distinct risk factors could be identified. Fortunately, urologic injury during vaginal hysterectomy remains an uncommon event.