Trends in various types of surgery for hysterectomy and distribution by patient age, surgeon age, and hospital accreditation: 10-year population-based study in Taiwan

Abstract

Study objective: To estimate the trends in various types of hysterectomy (abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic, and subtotal) and their distribution according to patient age, surgeon age, and hospital accreditation in Taiwan.

Design: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Population-based National Health Insurance (NHI) database.

Patients: Women with NHI in Taiwan undergoing various types of hysterectomy to treat noncancerous lesions.

Interventions: Data for this study were obtained from the Inpatient Expenditures by Admissions files of the NHI research database, released by the NHI program in Taiwan for 1996-2005.

Measurements and main results: A total of 234,939 women who underwent various types of hysterectomy were identified for analysis. The number of hysterectomies performed annually remained stationary during the 10-year study. Total abdominal hysterectomies decreased significantly (77.33% in 1996 vs 45.68% in 2005), laparoscopic hysterectomies increased significantly (5.20% vs 40.40%), vaginal hysterectomies decreased (14.70% vs 8.86%), and subtotal abdominal hysterectomies increased (2.76% vs 5.06%). Laparoscopic hysterectomy was more commonly performed in middle-aged women; vaginal hysterectomy was more common in older women; and subtotal abdominal hysterectomy was more common in younger women. Laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed more commonly in regional hospitals (33.11%), followed by medical centers (30.17%) and local hospitals (17.78%). Laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed more commonly in not-for-profit hospitals (30.25%), followed by private hospitals (29.32%) and government-owned hospitals (25.91%).

Conclusion: There has been considerable change in the types of surgery used for hysterectomy in Taiwan over the past 10 years. As a minimally invasive approach, laparoscopic hysterectomy represents a profound change for both patients and surgeons.