Anesthetic Management: Hysterectomy

Demographics According to Stovall1 removal of the uterus is the second most commonly performed surgical procedure in the United States after cesarean delivery. The following demographic characteristics are summarized to reveal that:1,2 ■ 650,000 hysterectomies are performed annually. By 2005, the number will increase to ~834,000. ■ The rate of hysterectomy is 6.1 to 8.6 per 1,000 women. ■ The Northeastern United States have the lowest hysterectomy rate, while the southern United States have the highest rates. ■ The mean and median ages of women undergoing hysterectomy are 42.7 and 40.9 years with a range of 15 to 80 years. ■ The ratio of abdominal to vaginally performed hysterectomies is 3:1. ■ African-American women experience hysterectomy more frequently than European-American women. ■ Male gynecologists perform hysterectomies more frequently than female gynecologists.