Indications and types of hysterectomy in the National Referral Hospital of Bhutan, 2020

Introduction: Hysterectomy, the removal of uterus, is a major gynecological surgery performed in Bhutan. It is performed for both benign and malignant gynecological conditions. This study was conducted to assess the socio-demographic profiles, types of hysterectomies and their indications, and duration of surgery and duration of peri-operative hospital stay among women who had hysterectomy at the national referral hospital of Bhutan.  Method: This was a retrospective study conducted at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu. Data of women, who had hysterectomy from 1st January to 31st December, 2020 was extracted into a structured questionnaire by investigators from the patients record maintained at the record section, JDWNRH. Ethical approval was sought from the Research Ethics Board of Health. Data were entered into EpiData 3.1 and was analyzed using descriptive commands of STATA 13.1 Result: Hysterectomy comprised of 9.8% of gynecological surgery in 2020. The commonest route of approach was total abdominal hysterectomy which comprised of 81.7% of hysterectomies. It was found out that 92.9% of hysterectomies were performed under general anesthesia and 97.4% of the surgeries were done as elective or planned cases. The mean (+SD) duration of surgery from skin incision to closure was shortest for vaginal hysterectomy (68.8 + 17.6 minutes) and longest for total laparoscopic hysterectomy (210 + 35.2 minutes). The duration of peri-operative hospital stay was shortest for vaginal hysterectomy. Conclusion: Total abdominal hysterectomy was the common approach despite vaginal hysterectomy being performed under regional anesthesia with shorter duration of surgery and shorter hospital stays.