Subtotal versus total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Between 1993 and 1994, 368 women underwent hysterectomy for benign disorders at the University of Kiel. Of these operations, 58.7% were performed either by pelviscopic or by laparotomic Classic Intrafascial Supracervical Hysterectomy, subtotal hysterectomy with coring of the inner cervix. Of the remainder, 14.8% were performed by total abdominal hysterectomy, 13.6% by Intrafascial Vaginal Hysterectomy, 12.2% by vaginal hysterectomy, and only 0.05% by Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy. Comparative data of these six surgical techniques concerning patients' characteristics, indications for operation, histological features, blood loss, operating time, hospital stay, uterine weights and postoperatively used analgesics are described.